MIAMI — Some of the curves and bends of the Miami International Autodrome were still easy to make out from the suite level at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday when representatives from South Florida’s local governments, the Miami Dolphins and the visitors bureau all gathered there to formally welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Miami-Dade County.
It has barely been a month since Miami Gardens hosted the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, transforming the grounds around Hard Rock into a Formula One-worthy race track. It has barely been two since the facility hosted the 2022 Miami Open, transforming the same campus into world-class tennis complex with 30 courts strewn all over the venue. In a few more months, the stadium will completely transform again, ready to host at least 10 Dolphins games and seven Miami Hurricanes games.
Even before FIFA announced it would be bringing 2026 World Cup games to Miami-Dade County on Thursday, there was no venue quite like Hard Rock Stadium. Now, it’s even more obvious.
