Hard Rock Stadium will not host World Cup games beginning on June 15.
Miami Stadium will. (Even though it’s technically in Miami Gardens, Florida.)
The power that world soccer sanctioning body FIFA wields over the marketing of its prestigious event assured that 10 of the 11 venues hosting 104 games, ending on July 19, will change from corporate to geographic names. Only official sponsors and partners of the organization will be allowed to brand themselves, with a partial exemption made for Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
FIFA demands compliance to “protect its brands and the exclusive rights of its sponsors,” meaning AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be generically known as Dallas Stadium for the World Cup.
