World Cup Power Meter: Which Host Cities Will Consume the Most Electricity?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to the United States, and the energy demands of hosting it are bigger than you might expect. To find out just how much electricity each US host city is projected to use, Payless Power analyzed match counts, stadium capacity, roof type, local climate, and commercial electricity rates across all 11 host venues.

Key Takeaways

• Dallas leads all US host cities in estimated electricity consumption at 899,323 kWh across its 9 matches.
• San Francisco is estimated to consume the least at an estimated 344,518 kWh across its 6 matches.
• Los Angeles has the highest estimated electricity bill of any US host city, at $152,864 across its 8 matches.
• Seattle has the lowest estimated total cost at $38,106 across its 6 matches.

Which US Host City Will Use the Most Electricity?

When you line up all 11 host cities by total projected electricity consumption, the spread between the top and bottom is surprisingly wide, and the reasons behind it go beyond just how many games each city is hosting.

Dallas leads all US host cities with an estimated 899,323 kWh consumed across its 9 matches, followed by Atlanta at 768,162 and Houston at 681,409. Notably, all three top cities are home to enclosed-roof venues, a factor that drives up energy demand. Dallas consumed roughly 2.6 times as much electricity as San Francisco, despite hosting only three more matches.

Estimated Total kWh for All FIFA 2026 Matches per City

1. Dallas (899,323 | 9 matches)
2. Atlanta (768,162 | 8 matches)
3. Houston (681,409 | 7 matches)
4. New York/NJ (579,619 | 8 matches)
5. Los Angeles (537,130 | 8 matches)
6. Miami (488,887 | 7 matches)
7. Boston (374,448 | 7 matches)
8. Philadelphia (373,958 | 6 matches)
9. Kansas City (373,509 | 6 matches)
10. Seattle (347,033 | 6 matches)
11. San Francisco (344,518 | 6 matches)

To put those numbers in everyday terms, Dallas’s total estimated consumption is equivalent to powering approximately 1,035 average US homes for a month. Atlanta’s electricity use could power about 884 homes, and Houston’s could power about 784. At the lower end, San Francisco’s projected consumption translates to roughly 396 home-months.

Enclosed Venues Boost Electric Estimates

Looking at electricity use on a per-match basis rather than totals reveals a clear pattern. The type of roof over a stadium has a major influence on the energy required for each game.

Dallas could draw the most electricity per match at an estimated 99,925 kWh, followed closely by Houston (97,344) and Atlanta (96,020). All three are enclosed-roof venues, with climate control systems running continuously throughout each event. Boston ranked last among host cities in per-match consumption at 53,493 kWh.

When it comes to cost per match, the rankings shift considerably. Los Angeles tops the list at an estimated $19,108 per match, followed by San Francisco at $16,342. Seattle has the lowest estimated cost per match at $6,351.

Estimated Cost per FIFA 2026 Match

1. Los Angeles ($19,108 per match)
2. San Francisco ($16,342 per match)
3. New York/NJ ($13,179 per match)
4. Boston ($12,367 per match)
5. Atlanta ($11,839 per match)
6. Dallas ($8,634 per match)
7. Houston ($8,411 per match)
8. Miami ($7,927 per match)
9. Philadelphia ($7,791 per match)
10. Kansas City ($7,669 per match)
11. Seattle ($6,351 per match)

More Energy Does Not Mean a Bigger Bill

Total kilowatt-hours and total electricity costs tell two very different stories when you factor in what each state actually charges for commercial power.

Los Angeles ranks fifth in total electricity consumption but first in total estimated cost at $152,864, a result of California’s commercial electricity rate of 28.46 cents per kWh. That’s more than three times Texas’s rate of 8.64 cents per kWh. Miami, Dallas, and Houston also flip relative to their kWh rankings because Florida and Texas benefit from cheaper commercial rates.

Seattle has the lowest estimated total cost at $38,106, even though it will host the same number of matches as San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. Washington state’s lower commercial rate made all the difference, keeping Seattle’s bill well below cities with similar or even smaller consumption totals.

Estimated Total Electricity Costs for All FIFA 2026 Matches per City

1. Los Angeles ($152,864)
2. New York/NJ ($105,432)
3. San Francisco ($98,052)
4. Atlanta ($94,712)
5. Boston ($86,569)
6. Dallas ($77,706)
7. Houston ($58,877)
8. Miami ($55,489)
9. Philadelphia ($46,746)
10. Kansas City ($46,014)
11. Seattle ($38,106)

What the World Cup Tells Us About Energy Costs

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a reminder that energy consumption and energy cost are not always the same thing. Where you live, and the local rate you pay can matter just as much as how much power you actually use, a reality that resonates with anyone managing a household electric bill in a deregulated market.

Dallas may power the most matches in the nation, but Texas’s competitive commercial electricity rates keep its estimated bill far below what West Coast cities are projected to pay. For everyday consumers, that same principle applies. The rate you lock in can affect your costs as much as the kilowatts you consume.

Methodology

To estimate electricity consumption for each 2026 FIFA World Cup US host city, we developed a per-match energy model anchored to published data on stadium game-day electricity use. Match counts and venue assignments were sourced from the official FIFA 2026 World Cup match schedule (version 17, April 10, 2026). All estimates reflect stadium operational electricity only and do not include fan transportation, broadcast infrastructure outside the stadium, or pre-tournament venue preparation.

1. The baseline figure of 57,500 kWh per match represents the midpoint of a published range of 50,000 to 65,000 kWh for a modern open-air stadium in a temperate climate, sourced from Electric Choice.
2. Three adjustment multipliers were applied to each venue. First, a capacity multiplier was calculated by dividing each stadium’s FIFA-published capacity by the average FIFA capacity across all 11 US host venues (68,596 seats), sourced from the official FIFA 2026 World Cup stadium information page.
3. Second, a roof and HVAC multiplier was applied to account for climate control systems: enclosed retractable-roof venues (AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, and NRG Stadium in Houston) received a 1.70 multiplier derived from published annual energy consumption data showing retractable-roof NFL stadiums consuming approximately 14 to 15 million kWh per year compared to 7 to 10 million kWh for open-air venues (electricchoice.com, March 2026); SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which features a translucent canopy without active climate control, received a 1.15 multiplier; all other open-air venues received a baseline multiplier of 1.0.
4. Third, a climate multiplier was applied to open-air venues only, based on NOAA 1991 to 2020 30-year climate normals for June and July sourced from currentresults.com : cities with average daily highs above 88 degrees Fahrenheit received a 1.30 multiplier (Miami); cities with average daily highs between 80 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit received a 1.10 multiplier (New York/NJ, Philadelphia, Kansas City); and cities with average daily highs below 80 degrees Fahrenheit received a baseline multiplier of 1.0 (Boston, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco). Enclosed venues (Dallas, Houston, Atlanta) were assigned a climate multiplier of 1.0, as their HVAC load is fully captured by the roof multiplier.
5. Estimated electricity costs were calculated by multiplying each city’s total kWh by the state-level commercial electricity rate for June and July 2025, sourced from the US Energy Information Administration retail commercial electricity sales dataset. Home-month equivalents were calculated by dividing total kWh by 869 kWh, the average US household monthly electricity consumption derived from the EIA 2025 retail residential electricity sales data.

Actual consumption will vary based on real weather conditions, match duration, and individual stadium energy procurement contracts. All figures should be interpreted as modeled estimates rather than metered actuals.

About Payless Power

Payless Power is a Texas electricity provider offering prepaid and no-deposit electricity plans that give customers more control over their energy spending each month. In a state where electricity rates and consumption vary as widely as they do across World Cup host cities, having a flexible, budget-friendly plan can make a real difference for households watching their bottom line.

Fair Use Statement

The data and findings in this article are available for noncommercial use. If republished or referenced, please include a link to Payless Power as the original source.

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