When a land enters the battlefield, any landfall triggered abilities trigger and are placed on the stack. Critically, there is a window after the land has entered — and the trigger is on the stack — where a player may cast instants like Stifle. This is because triggered abilities use the stack just like spells do (CR 603.3).
Stifle counters a triggered or activated ability (CR 509.2 governs priority after a trigger is placed; Stifle's text targets a triggered or activated ability on the stack). Once Stifle resolves targeting the landfall trigger, that trigger is countered and has no effect (CR 700.5 — 'counter' removes something from the stack without it resolving).
The land has already entered the battlefield by this point, so Stifle does not undo the land entering — it only prevents the landfall effect from happening. For example, if you control a Lotus Cobra, the landfall trigger fires when a land enters, but the mana addition hasn't happened yet. You cast Stifle targeting the Cobra's trigger; the trigger is countered and you get no mana, even though the land is now on the battlefield.
Timing is important: once the landfall trigger has already resolved, Stifle cannot retroactively counter it. You must cast Stifle while the trigger is still on the stack and before it resolves.
Unofficial fan resource — not affiliated with or endorsed by Wizards of the Coast. Answers are AI-generated estimates grounded in the Comprehensive Rules and are not a substitute for an official judge. Verify anything match-critical.