In summer 2026, sixteen stadiums across North America hosted matches as part of the FIFA World Cup. Over the years, astronauts aboard the International Space Station have captured a top-down view of the infrastructure, landscapes, and ecosystems surrounding many of these venues.
Six of the matches were played at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, beginning on June 13 with a match-up between Qatar and Switzerland. This stadium (also called Levi’s Stadium) is located in Santa Clara, California, adjacent to San Jose and around 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of San Francisco. An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photo (above) on July 26, 2022.
The stadium, completed in 2014, is surrounded by a mix of recreational, housing, and business infrastructure. The scene includes the southern part of San Francisco Bay, which is 23 years into a 50-year effort to restore up to 90 percent of the region’s salt ponds to tidal wetlands and marshlands, while retaining some of its salt-making heritage.
The Bay Area hosted its sixth and final World Cup match on July 1, when the U.S. faced off against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a knockout match. The U.S. advanced to the round of 16 following a 2-0 win.
April 17, 2022The FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, part of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium (also called MetLife Stadium) sits along the New Jersey Turnpike, west of Midtown Manhattan. Note that north is toward the bottom-right of this photo, captured by an astronaut on April 17, 2022.
The area has seen centuries of human impact. Colonists cleared wetlands and cedar forest for settlements, and development for a range of economic and industrial uses followed. In the 20th century, it became an unregulated dumping ground. In recent decades, though, wetland restoration efforts have occurred alongside the development of the sports and entertainment complex.
Other World Cup host cities have also appeared in astronaut photography and satellite imagery. Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron), Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium/Reliant Stadium), and BC Place Vancouver (BC Place) are among the venues that have been observed from above.
Astronaut photograph ISS067-E-202213 was acquired on July 26, 2022, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a focal length of 400 millimeters, and astronaut photograph ISS067-E-18580 was acquired on April 17, 2022, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a focal length of 1150 millimeters. They are provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center. The images were taken by a member of the Expedition 67 crew. The images have been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Kathryn Hansen.
Downloads
July 26, 2022
JPEG (17.97 MB)
April 17, 2022
JPEG (3.18 MB)
References & Resources
NASA (2026, July 1) NASA Data Helps CDC Track Air Quality During World Cup 2026. Accessed July 6, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2026, June 12) World Cup Fever in Guadalajara. Accessed July 6, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2023, March 5) New York and New Jersey. Accessed July 6, 2026. NASA Earth Observatory (2016, February 11) From Salt Production to Salt Marsh. Accessed July 6, 2026. New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (2023) History. Accessed July 6, 2026. U.S. Geological Survey (2023) Monitoring Nesting Waterbirds for the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project: 2022 Breeding Season. Accessed July 6, 2026.You may also be interested in:
Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.
Great Balls of Fire
4 min read
An astronaut on the International Space Station was surprised to photograph a shower of light streaking through the darkness while…
ArticleSan Francisco’s Metropolitan Mosaic
3 min read
Urban development, green spaces, and maritime activity converge in this Northern California city.
ArticleA Moonlit Earth as Seen From Artemis II
4 min read
An astronaut’s photo, taken en route to the Moon, reveals our planet and its place in space in a novel…
Article 1 2 3 4 Next Keep ExploringDiscover More from NASA Earth Science
Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters
Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.
Earth Observatory Image of the Day
NASA’s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery.
Explore Earth Science
Earth Science Data
Open access to NASA’s archive of Earth science data
Hence then, the article about the world cup from 250 miles up was published today ( ) and is available on NASA ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The World Cup From 250 Miles Up )
Also on site :
- 'Love on the Spectrum' Star Hard Launches New Romance — And Fans Are Shocked by One Trait
- Who Won ‘Jeopardy’ Today? (July 6, 2026) Plus, the Final Jeopardy Answer
- SpaceX’s supervoting shares put a decades-old governance debate back in play