The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to bring millions of fans across the United States, but new analysis suggests the tournament may also become a major test of flexible work infrastructure.
Research from CoworkingCafe found a sharp divide between stadiums located inside major cities and those situated in suburban locations, with access to coworking space varying dramatically depending on venue location.
Urban Stadiums Offer Far More Workspace Options
Across the 10 U.S. host stadiums analyzed, 165 coworking spaces were located within a three-mile radius. But the distribution was far from even.
Urban venues in Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia, and Seattle averaged 33 coworking spaces nearby, while suburban stadiums averaged just 5.5.
The gap highlights a growing challenge for remote workers and business travelers planning to combine work with tournament attendance.
Atlanta and Houston Lead for Flexible Workers
Atlanta ranked highest overall, with 53 coworking spaces located within three miles of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Houston also performed strongly, offering 16 nearby workspaces alongside some of the lowest transportation and workspace costs among host cities.
Philadelphia and Seattle also scored well, combining accessible stadium locations with relatively affordable coworking options and public transit connections.
Big-Name Markets Face Stadium Accessibility Challenges
Several of the tournamentโs largest markets showed the opposite pattern.
Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, New York/New Jersey, and San Francisco all experienced significant drops in coworking availability near their stadiums because venues are located outside their central business districts.
Boston recorded the sharpest decline, with only one coworking space located within three miles of Gillette Stadium despite dozens available across the wider metro area. Similar gaps were found near stadiums serving Dallas and Miami.
In many cases, fans may need to work from downtown business districts and travel separately to matches rather than rely on workspace near the venue itself.
World Cup Becomes a Workplace Planning Issue
The report argues that employers may need to think beyond attendance concerns during the tournament and focus instead on how employees can remain productive while traveling.
With surveys showing many workers plan to take time off or adjust schedules around World Cup matches, access to flexible workspace is becoming part of the eventโs broader business impact.
The analysis concludes that while some host cities make combining work and football relatively seamless, others will require far more planning from traveling workers and employers alike.
