Birdair’s Tensile Fabric Structures Gear Up for Spotlight at FIFA World Cup 2026™
Birdair’s custom solutions to serve as architectural backdrops for world’s largest sporting event
Birdair, Inc., the world’s leading specialty contractor for custom tensile membrane structures for over 70 years, has played a key role in the design and execution of tensile fabric structures at several stadiums selected to host matches during this summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ in North America. Birdair’s work spans a range of iconic venues across the United States, showcasing the company’s long‑standing expertise in large‑scale stadium architecture and performance driven design.
Birdair’s signature solutions are featured at multiple stadiums slated for use during the tournament, including Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium, soon to be renamed to Reliant Stadium after the tournament and prior to the NFL season), Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), and New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).
“These stadiums are among the more complex and distinctive projects in modern sports design,” said Dave Capezzuto, Senior Vice President, Operations and Pre-Construction, Birdair. “Birdair’s involvement reflects our extensive experience delivering large-scale tensile fabric structures that align with demanding architectural designs and are built for long-term use. It’s good to see these venues in focus as the global soccer community comes to North America.”
Birdair’s involvement at NRG Stadium includes the installation of its original retractable PTFE roof system – a pioneering feature when the venue opened and a benchmark for operable stadium roof design – as well as an updated, more durable PTFE-coated fiberglass membrane to be installed this year by the Birdair team. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Birdair designed and built the vertical single layer TensoSky® ETFE façade system and the venue’s iconic ETFE pillow system for the retractable roof, a defining element of the stadium’s pinwheel-inspired form. AT&T Stadium features two 1,225-foot arch box trusses supporting one of the world’s longest single-span roof structures, including 150,000 sq. ft of PTFE fabric cladding for the retractable roof system by Birdair, while Birdair’s scope at MetLife Stadium includes PTFE canopy systems that enhance weather protection and architectural identity along the stadium’s upper deck perimeter end zones.
Collectively, these projects highlight the role of tensile membrane architecture in shaping the fan experience while addressing performance requirements such as daylight admission, durability, weather resistance and adaptability. Designed for longevity, the stadiums will remain vital civic and cultural assets well beyond the 2026 tournament.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, bringing the tournament to North America for the first time since 1994. With matches staged in major metropolitan stadiums throughout the region, the event will showcase a new generation of large‑scale sports venues designed to accommodate global audiences, diverse climates and intensive operational demands. The tournament begins on June 11 and runs through July 19.
A full-service design build specialty contractor for tensile architecture, Birdair offers a comprehensive range of preconstruction services including design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project schedule development. Birdair’s in-house capabilities include design development, engineering, fabrication, construction (installation) and preventative maintenance services.
For more information on Birdair’s innovative roofing systems, canopies and skylights, visit Birdair.com and follow Birdair on Facebook and LinkedIn.
###
About Birdair
Birdair, Inc., is the leading specialty design build contractor of custom tensile structures around the world. In addition to pre-construction services such as design assistance, budgeting, construction methodologies and project scheduling, Birdair provides design-build solutions in all aspects of project design, fabrication, installation and maintenance. The company offers a selection of architectural fabric membranes, including PTFE-coated fiberglass, TensoSky® ETFE film, PVC and Tensotherm™, an insulated tensioned membrane system. Birdair, based in Buffalo, NY, is a member of the Taiyo Kogyo Group, with operations serving North and South America and other international locations. For more information about Birdair, call 1-800-622-2246 or visit Birdair.com.
Contacts:
Pipitone
Chris Hayes
Content Strategist
chayes@pipitone.com | 412.321.0879
Birdair
Michele Roth
Director of Marketing
MicheleR@birdair.com | 716.633.9500
