Miami Grand Prix venue to be overhauled for FIFA World Cup

Verstappen, Miami, Red Bull, 2024, generic — Photo: © IMAGO

Miami Grand Prix

Miami Grand Prix venue to be overhauled for FIFA World Cup

The Miami International Autodrome will host another major event alongside F1 this year

Originally written by Sheona Mountford. This version is a translation.

Saturday 2 May 2026 21:00

The Miami International Autodrome, which stages F1's Miami Grand Prix, is set for a significant overhaul once this weekend’s race is complete.

The Florida event is one of three American rounds on the F1 calendar and takes place on a temporary circuit built around the Hard Rock Stadium site in Miami Gardens. The stadium itself opened in 1987 as the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

In recent years, the wider complex has become a multi-sport venue, hosting events such as the Miami Open tennis tournament as well as Formula 1, which first arrived there in 2022.

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However, when the chequered flag has been waved over the 2026 Miami Grand Prix and the F1 circus has left Florida, the venue will transform for another major sporting event later this year.

Miami International Autodrome to become FIFA World Cup venue

The Hard Rock Stadium will host seven matches of the tournament, with the transformation from F1 to football having just over a month-long window to be completed.

Speaking to F1 about the process the Senior Vice President of Stadium Operations for the Miami Dolphins, Todd Boyan explained: "I think traditionally we take about four weeks to dismantle the F1 Miami Grand Prix.

"Much of what you see on the infrastructure that we have is temporary – there are permanent aspects to the track as well as the racing infrastructure, but a lot of that is taken down and over the course of four weeks after the race so by the first week of June that's traditionally done.

"We are expediting some of those items that we're dismantling so we can fit in what FIFA wants to bring in. They have zones outside the stadium and we're basically expediting certain areas of the deconstruction process to facilitate their arrival, which also includes the broadcast equipment that they're going to be bringing in for World Cup matches.

"We've been meeting for a couple years with FIFA on their plan and how we can integrate. They've been fully aware of the Miami Grand Prix schedule and we're trying to integrate as best we can.

"FIFA recognises they have more time in other stadiums where they can get in earlier than they are able to here, so they've had to adapt a little bit to make sure that they understand that they can get in after the Grand Prix.

"So in the first week of May, they're going to start to see some availability open up for them to be able to come on site and be able to load in. The pitch will be installed in mid-May, and that starts the process for them that gives them a full month prior to the first match on June 15."

How long does it take to construct F1 Miami GP?

Construction for the F1 Miami GP involves more than 10 million pounds of steel, 570,000 square feet of turf, 158,400 feet of plumbing, more than 300 trucks on site daily, 209 tents across the campus and 22 hospitality structures being built.

Boyan added: "When we get through with the tennis, then it becomes a full-on sprint 24 hours a day to get from the Miami Open at the end of March to the race weekend.

"I think we have about 250 structures between grandstands, hospitality, tents, pedestrian bridges, all sorts of infrastructure [for the F1 campus], so it's really an intense period for us."