We design iconic spaces for the world’s most renowned names in sports and entertainment, from stadiums and arenas to event spaces and urban environments. Our design innovations have transformed how people and communities worldwide experience live events. 

Our work transforms neighborhoods, revitalizes cities, builds relationships and connects people to the incredible and the awe-inspiring. It’s our vision for design excellence that has led Fast Company to name Populous one of the world’s 50 most innovative companies, ranking us number one in architecture.

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As a historic summer of global soccer unfolds across the U.S., Canada and Mexico — including in Kansas City, home to our firm’s headquarters — we’re grateful for the chance to build on a 30+-year FIFA World Cup™ relationship. This year, we’re helping to ensure all host stadiums are ready for the world’s biggest stage through a broad array of work that includes event overlay, planning and design.

Argentina, reigning FIFA World Cup™ Champions, join three additional teams that selected Kansas City as their tournament base camp. Argentina is using Populous-designed Compass Minerals National Performance Center as their performance and recovery hub. The elite facility, opened in 2018, is home to Sporting Kansas City and, more recently, used as the national training center for U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team. 

Soccer has long been part of our global DNA: we designed Emirates Stadium for Arsenal FC in 2006 and Wembley Stadium in 2007. We also created the vision behind landmark FIFA World Cup™ stadiums like Lusail Stadium in Qatar (2022), Arena das Dunas in Brazil (2014) and FNB Stadium in South Africa (2010). And as the world’s most popular sport has grown in the U.S., our designs for venues like GEODIS Park (2022), TQL Stadium (2021) and Allianz Field (2019) not only introduced a new caliber of fan experience, including North America’s first safe-standing supporter section, but also helped inform league-wide design standards.

Destined to be the largest capacity soccer stadium on the planet, Stade Hassan II in Benslimane, Morocco, will hold 115,000 spectators and is likely to be a key venue at FIFA World Cup™ 2030. The vast tented roof design is inspired by a traditional Moroccan mousseum — a social gathering often associated with tents, ceremony and collective celebration.  

Also in Morocco, Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat has already set a new standard in African football. Meanwhile in Lisbon, the Populous-designed Estadio da Luz, home of Benfica, is set to receive a stunning makeover prior to Portugal’s role as co-hosts of the tournament, alongside Spain and Morocco.

With the 2034 FIFA World Cup™ being held in Saudi Arabia, Populous is already at work on several ambitious venues, including King Salman Stadium in Riyadh, the new national stadium and part of an area masterplan that creates a hub of daily activity around the stadium; the iconic Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar, designed to offer a world-class viewing experience for every seat; a completely renovated King Fahad Stadium in Riyadh; and the futuristic Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium, which overlooks Qiddiya, the City of Play, from atop a 200-meter-tall cliff.  

Welcome to one of the region’s biggest summer festivals. FIFA Fan Festival™ KC, located on the historic grounds of the nation’s only World War I Museum and Memorial, is one of only two FIFA Fan Festivals™ to offer free admission. That intentional decision is part of KC2026’s commitment to giving every attendee access to the beautiful game and a memorable immersion into Kansas City’s signature hospitality.

Founded on the vision of drawing people together, we know a thing or two about hospitality at Populous, including the importance of first impressions. Part of our FIFA Fan Festival™ design is a towering 65-foot Heart Gateway Entry, a literal welcome to the heart of this year’s tournament.

Don’t miss our FIFA Fan Festival™ activation, yet another expression of drawing people together. Kansas City muralist Katie Lee will transform a sprawling canvas over five weeks, using fan-submitted moments and memories to create a work of art that illustrates — pun intended — how live events connect us through joy, unity and passion.