FIFA required every host venue to change its name for the World Cup. They are not allowed to feature any kind of corporate sponsor anywhere in or around the stadium.
A couple of minor details slipped through the cracks.
There are still a few reminders of reality sprinkled throughout the international soccer tournament. YOU SAW NOTHING!
FIFA does not allow corporate advertisers at the World Cup.
11 NFL stadiums were selected to host World Cup matches in 2026. That does not include Mexico and Canada.
FIFA’s contracts with World Cup venues strictly forbid “advertising, marketing, promotion, merchandising, licensing, signage or other commercial identification of any kind on any stands, scoreboards, seats, seatbacks, time clocks, staff uniforms, Accreditation passes, fences or elsewhere inside, surrounding, or in the airspace above and around the Stadium other than that which is installed by, or at the direction of, FIFA or which is approved in writing by FIFA.” That presented a bit of a problem for the United States, where most (if not all) major sporting venues are named for a corporate sponsor. They were all forced to change their name.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium —> Atlanta Stadium
- Gillette Stadium —> Boston Stadium
- AT&T Stadium —> Dallas Stadium
- NRG Stadium —> Houston Stadium
- Arrowhead Stadium —> Kansas City Stadium
- SoFi Stadium —> Los Angeles Stadium
- Hard Rock Stadium —> Miami Stadium
- MetLife Stadium —> New Jersey/New York Stadium
- Lincoln Financial Field —> Philadelphia Stadium
- Levi’s Stadium —> San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
- Lumen Field —> Seattle Stadium
The brand restrictions required every trace of corporate sponsorship to be erased. It was a painstaking process.
Even the condiments in the press box had to be taped over.
German soccer player Jamal Musiala even had to cover up the ‘Beats’ logo on his headphones.
FIFA made Jamal Musiala cover the Beats logo on his headphones due to sponsorship rules
by u/o6ohunter in soccer
Levi’s even played into the sponsorship suppression with a brilliant troll on social media. Check out its profile photo on Instagram.
This is the case at every stadium. It was a requirement to host.
Some of the stadiums forgot to cover up the sponsors.
Despite the strict rules, a few minor details went unchecked. The trash cans at Levi’s Stadium were not taped over.
The press tags for members of the media still promote MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands.
— James Nalton (@JDNalton) June 30, 2026
Oops! Don’t let FIFA see this. Somebody might go missing…
While this may not seem like a big deal (because it isn’t), the governing body of international soccer is one of the most strict organizations in the world. Something as insignificant as a trash can could lead to much larger consequences, whether that be a formal reprimand, a fine, or a total revocation of the opportunity to host in the future. FIFA does not mess around.