MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Hard Rock Stadium, the home of the Miami Dolphins, will in 2026 host the biggest sporting event in the world — the World Cup, with seven games, including a quarterfinal matchup.
And if all goes to plan, the nation’s biggest domestic sporting event — the Super Bowl — will make its way back to South Florida for a record 12th time in the years that follow.
“We’re talking to the NFL about that, and we expect at some point will be able to announce it, hopefully,” Dolphins CEO Tom Garfinkel said here during the 14th annual Dolphins Cancer Challenge, which raised a record $14 million for cancer research.
Super Bowl, World Cup Updates From Miami Dolphins CEO
Hard Rock last hosted the NFL’s championship game in 2020 — ending a decade-long drought.
There are signs that the Dolphins might not have to wait that long for another one. The soonest the Super Bowl could return is 2028. Next year’s game will be in New Orleans, followed by the Bay Area, and then Los Angeles.
But it’s not like this property will go unused. In the next few months, both Formula One and the ATP/WTA will have events here. And the College Football Playoff semifinal returns to Hard Rock in 2026 — which will be the busiest year in the property’s history.
“We’re proud of the fact that it’s somewhere where it’s probably the only place in the world actually, all of those different places merge in one place, and there’s no better place for that to happen in Miami,” Garfinkel said.
Unlike other football stadiums that must make alterations to their footprint ahead of the World Cup, Hard Rock was built with international soccer in mind.
“We’re fortunate here that the dimensions are, you know, we actually have a great setup for soccer,” Garfinkel added. “So there’s really no changes. I mean, it’s perfect dimensions for a soccer field.”
Two Dolphins bits of news from the Dolphins CEO:
- The team’s throwback uniforms, while popular, will seemingly remain the alternate jerseys for the foreseeable future. The team doesn’t appear inclined to replace their current permanent uniforms. “I love the throwbacks,” Garfinkel said. “I love that. I love when we wear them. I love celebrating our history. I think they’re very appropriate for celebrating our history. It keeps them special that we wear them a couple of times a year.”
- Garfinkel, asked about his take on the state of the franchise: “Very good. … Steve [Ross] and I have tremendous confidence in all the football leadership, Mike [McDaniel] and Chris [Grier] and the decisions that they make. Everybody’s working together really well, which is important, you know, and very excited about the future.”
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