
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This will be the first time the World Cup is hosted by three nations and the first time the tournament expands to 48 teams.
Key Details About the 2026 Hosts
United States
- The U.S. will host the majority of the matches, including the final, which is expected to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (near New York City).
- Other notable venues include:
- SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles, California)
- AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia)
Canada
- This will be Canada’s first time hosting World Cup matches. The primary venue will be:
- BMO Field (Toronto, Ontario), which will be expanded for the tournament.
- Vancouver was initially considered but withdrew from the bid.
Mexico
- Mexico will become the first country to host World Cup matches three times (after 1970 and 1986).
- The primary venues will be:
- Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) – the only stadium to host two World Cup finals (1970 and 1986).
- Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
- Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
Tournament Format
- 48 teams will participate, up from 32 in previous tournaments.
- Teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4, with the top two from each group and the best eight third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage.
- A total of 104 matches will be played, up from 64 in previous editions.
Significance of the 2026 World Cup
- This will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries, showcasing the unity and collaboration between North American nations.
- It will also be the largest World Cup ever, with more teams and matches than any previous edition.
- The tournament is expected to break attendance and viewership records, given the massive stadiums and passionate fan bases in the host countries.
If you’d like more details about specific venues, the qualification process, or the teams to watch, let wc 2026 know!