The 2026 FIFA World Cup is hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico — making it the first World Cup ever hosted across three countries simultaneously. North America last hosted the tournament in 1994, when the US hosted alone. This time, it is the largest World Cup in history: 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 stadiums across 16 cities.
The short answer: the USA hosts the most by far. Of the 104 total matches, 78 take place on American soil — including every match from the quarterfinals onward, and the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. Canada and Mexico each host 13 matches, all during the group stage.
The Three Host Nations at a Glance
| Host Nation | Matches Hosted | Cities | Knockout Matches? |
| United States | 78 | 11 cities | Yes — from QF onward, including Final |
| Canada | 13 | 2 cities (Toronto, Vancouver) | Group stage only |
| Mexico | 13 | 3 cities (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey) | Group stage only |
United States: 11 Cities, 78 Matches
The USA hosts the bulk of the 2026 World Cup — 78 of 104 matches — and all the high-stakes knockout games from the quarterfinals through the Final. The 11 US host cities are spread across three geographic regions:
Eastern Region
- New York / New Jersey — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ); capacity 82,500; hosts the Final on July 19
- Boston — Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA; capacity ~65,000
- Philadelphia — Lincoln Financial Field; capacity ~70,000
- Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium; capacity ~72,000; retractable roof; hosts a semifinal
- Miami — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens; capacity ~65,000; hosts third place playoff July 18
Central Region
- Dallas / Arlington — AT&T Stadium; capacity ~94,000; largest venue in the tournament; hosts 9 matches including a semifinal
- Houston — NRG Stadium; capacity ~72,000; retractable roof
- Kansas City — Arrowhead Stadium; capacity ~76,000
Western Region
- Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (officially Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament); capacity ~70,000; USA opened here vs Paraguay
- San Francisco Bay Area — Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara; capacity ~68,000
- Seattle — Lumen Field; capacity ~69,000; USA beat Australia here June 19
Canada: 2 Cities, 13 Matches
Canada is making its first-ever World Cup appearance as both a host nation and participating team in the same tournament. The Canadian men’s national team plays all three group stage matches at home, beginning in Toronto before heading west to Vancouver.
| City | Venue | Capacity |
| Toronto | BMO Field (expanded for tournament) | ~45,500 (expanded from 30,000) |
| Vancouver | BC Place | ~54,500 |
BMO Field in Toronto was specifically expanded from 30,000 to approximately 45,500 seats to meet FIFA’s minimum capacity requirement of 40,000. Both Canadian venues host group stage matches only — no knockout games take place in Canada.
Canada’s group stage results: Drew 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto (June 12), then crushed Qatar 6-0 in their second group game. They finish the group stage against Switzerland.
Mexico: 3 Cities, 13 Matches
Mexico opened the entire tournament on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — one of football’s most iconic venues. Mexico is in Group A and plays all three group games at home, across three legendary Mexican stadiums.
| City | Venue | Capacity |
| Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | ~83,000 |
| Guadalajara | Estadio Akron (Zapopan) | ~49,000 (group stage only — no knockout) |
| Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | ~53,000 |
Estadio Azteca is the only stadium to have hosted two previous World Cup Finals (1970 and 1986). It opened the 2026 tournament when Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 on June 11. Mexico followed up with a 1-0 win over South Korea.
Why Three Host Nations?
FIFA lifted its ban on co-hosting after the 2002 World Cup (which South Korea and Japan co-hosted). The United 2026 bid from Canada, Mexico, and the USA was announced jointly in April 2017, and won the hosting vote at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow in June 2018, beating Morocco 134 votes to 65.
The three-nation bid was chosen for its financial strength, existing infrastructure, and the appeal of spreading the world’s biggest sporting event across North America. Every stadium used was already an existing, fully-functional venue with regular tenants — no new construction was required in the USA or Canada.
The 2026 World Cup Final Venue: MetLife Stadium
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts the World Cup 2026 Final on July 19, 2026. FIFA officially calls it the New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament to prevent ambush marketing from non-official sponsors.
The stadium seats 82,500 for the tournament — the second-largest venue in the competition behind AT&T Stadium in Dallas. It sits approximately 10 miles west of Midtown Manhattan, accessible by NJ Transit train from Penn Station. It is the home of both the New York Giants and New York Jets in the NFL.
The Final makes history as the first World Cup Final with a halftime show — produced by Global Citizen and curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin, headlined by Shakira, Madonna, and BTS.
All 16 Host Cities and Stadiums
| Stadium | City / Country | Capacity | Knockout? |
| AT&T Stadium | Arlington, Texas USA | ~94,000 | Yes (SF) |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | ~83,000 | Group only |
| MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford NJ USA | ~82,500 | Yes (Final) |
| Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City USA | ~76,000 | Yes |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta USA | ~72,000 | Yes (SF) |
| NRG Stadium | Houston USA | ~72,000 | Yes |
| Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia USA | ~70,000 | Yes |
| SoFi Stadium | Inglewood (LA) USA | ~70,000 | Yes |
| Lumen Field | Seattle USA | ~69,000 | Yes |
| Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara (SF Bay) USA | ~68,000 | Yes |
| Gillette Stadium | Foxborough (Boston) USA | ~65,000 | Yes |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens USA | ~65,000 | Yes (3rd place) |
| BC Place | Vancouver, Canada | ~54,500 | Group only |
| Estadio BBVA | Monterrey, Mexico | ~53,000 | Group only |
| Estadio Akron | Guadalajara, Mexico | ~49,000 | Group only |
| BMO Field | Toronto, Canada | ~45,500 | Group only |
For the complete day-by-day schedule of all 104 matches, see our guide to World Cup 2026 key dates and full match schedule covering every stage from group stage to the July 19 Final.
Explore every 2026 World Cup venue with capacity, location, and match schedule at FIFA.com/worldcup/stadiums — the official stadium hub with photos and accessibility information.
Bottom Line
| Host nations | USA (78 matches), Canada (13), Mexico (13) |
| Total venues | 16 stadiums across 16 cities in 3 countries |
| Largest stadium | AT&T Stadium, Arlington TX (~94,000 capacity; 9 matches) |
| Final venue | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford NJ — July 19, 3:00 PM ET |
| Tournament opener | Mexico 2-0 South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — June 11 |
| USA host cities | LA, Seattle, SF Bay Area, Dallas, Houston, KC, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/NJ |
| Knockout stage | All QF, SF, and Final at US venues only |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first time three nations have co-hosted a World Cup. The USA hosts 78 of the 104 total matches, including all knockout games from the quarterfinals through the Final. Canada and Mexico each host 13 matches, all during the group stage.
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The 2026 World Cup Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — known during the tournament as New York New Jersey Stadium. Kickoff is July 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. The stadium seats 82,500 fans. It hosts the first-ever World Cup Final halftime show, headlined by Shakira, Madonna, and BTS.
How many cities are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
16 cities across the three host nations: 11 in the USA (New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas/Arlington, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle), 2 in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver), and 3 in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey).
What is the biggest stadium at the 2026 World Cup?
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is the largest venue, with a capacity of approximately 94,000 spectators. It is the home of the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL and hosts nine matches at the 2026 World Cup — more than any other single venue — including one semifinal. It has a retractable roof and climate control, crucial for matches played in Texas summer heat.
Is this the first World Cup hosted in North America?
No — North America hosted the 1994 World Cup, which was held exclusively in the United States across nine cities. The USA reached the Round of 16 in that tournament, their best modern World Cup performance until 2026. The 2026 tournament is the first co-hosted by three North American nations and the first with 48 teams.