Why the luck of playing in certain venues could de...

When the 2026 World Cup draw was held in December, coaches, players and fans all tried to discern which teams had even the slightest advantage in terms of the bracket, scheduling and travel.

But there was one other, less obvious, aspect to consider: the benefit gained by playing multiple games indoors.

The first time that a World Cup match was played inside was June 18, 1994, when the U.S. and Switzerland played to a 1-1 draw. It wasn't much of an advantage that day, as the humidity inside the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, was off the charts.

Times -- and technology -- have changed, however.