FIFA has announced the schedule for the next World Cup in 2026, and fans can now plan when – and where – they can see the world’s best footballers take to the pitch at the famous tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
When and where will the 2026 World Cup start?
More than five years after the association announced that the North American countries had won a joint bid to host the tournament, FIFA’s announcement noted that the matches will begin at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
When and where will the World Cup final be played?
The World Cup Final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. With a capacity of 82,500, the stadium is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets.
Which are the host cities of the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA has released the names of the 16 host cities in May 2022: 11 are in the United States, three are in Mexico and two are in Canada. The last World Cup, hosted in Qatar in 2022, featured 32 teams, but the 2026 tournament will expand to 48 teams and a total of 104 matches.
The host sites for the 2026 World Cup are:
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Seattle
- San Francisco Bay Area
- The angels
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Mexico City
- Monterrey, Mexico
- Houston
- Dallas
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Atlanta
- Miami
- Toronto
- Boston
- Philadelphia
- New York/New Jersey
“The 26th FIFA World Cup will be a turning point and will give impetus to the large-scale development of football in our region and around the world,” Victor Montaliani, FIFA Vice President and President of CONCACAF – the confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football – said in a statement. “While each host city is unique, they all have one thing in common – they are passionate about football and can’t wait to welcome the world in June and July 2026.”
Which country and city will host the most World Cup matches?
Canada and Mexico will host 13 games in their respective cities, according to FIFA — meaning the U.S. will host 78 World Cup games.
With nine games, Dallas will host the most of any American city, followed by Atlanta and Los Angeles, who will host eight each. The zone, collectively referred to as New York New Jersey by FIFA, will also host eight matches, including the final.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the first time Canada has hosted the tournament, although it did host the Women’s World Cup in 2015. The US last hosted the men’s version in 1994 and were the site of the Women’s World Cup in 1999 and 2003. Meanwhile, Mexico will host the Men’s World Cup for the third time after hosting it in 1970 and 1986.
What is the projected economic impact of the World Cup?
Before the combined North American bid was selected, a study reportedly estimated that hosting the 2026 World Cup could generate more than $5 billion in short-term economic activity and support an estimated 40,000 jobs, with cities seeing a net benefit of 90 up to $480 million each. In western Washington state — which includes the host city of Seattle — FOX-13 reports the tournament is expected to generate $100 million.
Which country has won the most World Cup tournaments?
Regardless of the eventual winner, the World Cup otherwise promises to be another showcase for the countries’ athletic prowess, even if all the teams that have qualified have yet to be determined.
Brazil and Argentina — both of which typically have strong national soccer teams — were ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, for being considered athletically talented in the latest US News Top Countries analysis, which assessed perceptions of 87 countries by surveying the citizens of the world. Argentina beat France to win the 2022 World Cup.
Where can I get tickets for the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA says interested fans can register to receive ticket information here.
