​Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne has suggested he prefers playing in Canada, even though most of FIFA World Cup 2026 action has taken place on American soil. While the United States, Canada, and Mexico co-host the tournament—America hosting the bulk of the games—De Bruyne voiced a clear preference for Canadian venues. He highlighted BC Place in Vancouver, where Belgium beat New Zealand 5-1, calling it a genuine football stadium that felt different from the massive NFL atmospheres of the NFL-style venues in Los Angeles and Seattle.
De Bruyne praised the Vancouver stadium as offering an authentic football experience, noting that while the other large venues have the NFL “feeling,” BC Place provided something more fitting for soccer. He said it was a pleasure to play there, and his comments come as Belgium had earlier drawn with Iran in Los Angeles and with Egypt in Seattle.
Although Belgium remains a strong team, they are not known as the force they once were; they advanced to the round of 32 and are likely to face Senegal in Seattle next week. The insights from De Bruyne shed light on the varying fan experiences across World Cup venues, illustrating a contrast between Canadian stadiums and their American counterparts.
The World Cup final is scheduled to be held in the United States, with MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—renamed the New York New Jersey Stadium for FIFA branding purposes—set to host the final on July 19, when the world watches the sport’s biggest match.