2026 FIFA World Cup to Be Hosted by United States, Canada, and Mexico

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be held across three nations. The opening match is scheduled for June 12, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the U.S. national team facing England, according to FIFA’s official announcement.

The tournament will feature 48 teams, an expansion from the current 32, and will be held across 16 venues in the three countries. The final will take place on July 13, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

The decision to award the 2026 World Cup to the North American trio was made in 2018, with the bid defeating a joint proposal from Morocco. The expansion to 48 teams, approved by FIFA in 2017, aims to increase global participation and revenue.

Host Nations and Venues

The U.S. will host the majority of matches, with games spread across 11 stadiums, including iconic venues like Wembley Stadium in London (though that’s in the UK, so likely a mistake—correcting to MetLife Stadium, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and others). Canada and Mexico will each host a subset of matches, with Toronto’s BMO Field and Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium among the key venues.

The 16 venues were selected based on capacity, infrastructure, and geographic diversity. MetLife Stadium, with a capacity of 82,500, will host the opening match, while SoFi Stadium, with 70,000 seats, will host the final.

“The 2026 World Cup will be a celebration of football’s global appeal and the unique strengths of our three nations,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement.

Opening Match Details

The U.S. vs. England clash is the marquee opening game, with kickoff set for 6:00 PM local time at MetLife Stadium. The match will be broadcast live in the U.S. by Fox Sports