The year 2026 is going to be the biggest year in the history of sports. Three nations. One massive trophy. A record number of teams. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will change everything we know about global soccer tournaments. It is the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams. It is also the first time three countries—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—will host the event together. Fans will witness 104 matches across 16 iconic cities. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
You might be looking for the t20 world cup 2026 stadiums list or even the t20 world cup 2026 venues list in india, but those are for a different sport entirely. Similarly, the rugby league world cup 2026 venues list and the rugby league world cup 2026 venues list 6ckets are not what we are talking about today. We are here to talk about the grandest stage of them all. This is your World Cup 2026 stadiums list – Host Cities & Venues Full Guide.
The Massive Scale of the 2026 World Cup
The scale of this event is truly hard to imagine. Sixteen stadiums have been hand-picked to host the best players on the planet. Eleven of these venues are in the United States, three are in Mexico, and two are in Canada. Unlike previous years where countries built new stadiums, all these venues are already in use. However, many will get big upgrades to meet the strict standards set by FIFA.
Dallas will host the most games with nine matches on the schedule. Meanwhile, the historic Mexico City Stadium will host the opening match on June 11. The final will take place on July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
First of all, let us dive into the details of the stadiums that will make this fifa world cup 2026 stadiums list so special.
United States: The Heart of the Tournament
The world cup 2026 usa stadiums list includes some of the most technologically advanced and largest venues in the world. Most of these are homes to NFL teams.
Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) – Arlington, Texas
The Dallas Stadium is the giant of this tournament. It has a massive capacity of 92,967. Some reports even suggest it can reach 94,000 for this event. It features a retractable roof and one of the largest video screens in existence.
Dallas will be the center of the action. It will host nine matches. These include five group stage games, two Round of 32 games, one Round of 16 game, and a semi-final.
- June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan
- June 17: England vs. Croatia
- June 22: Argentina vs. Austria
- June 25: Japan vs. Playoff Winner B
- June 27: Jordan vs. Argentina
Additionally, the stadium will undergo changes to install natural grass for the tournament.
New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) – East Rutherford, New Jersey
This is the venue for the 2026 World Cup Final. It is located just across the river from Manhattan. The stadium holds 82,500 fans. New Jersey officials put up $67.5 million for preparations. The final match will happen on Saturday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET.
MetLife Stadium will host eight matches in total. Besides the final, fans can see Brazil vs. Morocco on June 13 and France vs. Senegal on June 16. This stadium is home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) – Inglewood, California
The Los Angeles Stadium is an architectural masterpiece. It cost a staggering $5.5 billion to build. It is the most expensive stadium ever made. The capacity for soccer matches is 70,240, but it can expand to 100,000 for major events.
The venue features a translucent canopy and a double-sided Infinity Screen. It will host eight matches. The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) will play their first match here on June 12 against Paraguay.
Later, the stadium will host a quarter-final on July 10. It is located only 10 minutes from LAX airport, which makes it perfect for international fans.
Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) – Atlanta, Georgia
The Atlanta Stadium is another modern marvel with a retractable roof that opens like a camera lens. It has a capacity of 75,000.
This city will be very busy. It is scheduled to host eight matches, including a semi-final on July 15. Spain will play two matches here, first against Cape Verde on June 15 and then against Saudi Arabia on June 21.
Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) – Kansas City, Missouri
This stadium is famous for being one of the loudest in the world. It has a capacity of 76,640. It will host six matches.
Argentina will face Algeria here on June 16. The atmosphere will be electric. On top of that, it is one of the largest open-air venues in the tournament.
Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium) – Houston, Texas
The Houston Stadium holds 72,220 people. It was the first NFL stadium to have a retractable roof.
Houston will host seven matches. Fans can watch Germany vs. Curaçao on June 14 and Portugal vs. Playoff Winner 1 on June 17. It also hosts a Round of 16 match on July 4.
Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia Stadium has a capacity of 69,328. It will host six matches.
One of the big highlights will be Brazil vs. Haiti on June 19. The stadium will also host a Round of 16 match on the 4th of July, which is a very special day in America.
Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) – Seattle, Washington
The Seattle Stadium is legendary for its fan noise. The cheers have actually registered as seismic activity on seismographs. It holds 69,000 fans.
Seattle will host six matches. The USMNT will play their second group match here on June 19 against Australia. The stadium will get new natural grass and bigger video boards for the event.
San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) – Santa Clara, California
This venue is located in the heart of Silicon Valley. It has a capacity of 70,909.
San Francisco will host six matches. Switzerland will play Qatar here on June 13. It will also host a Round of 32 match on July 1.
Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) – Foxborough, Massachusetts
The Boston Stadium holds 65,878 people. It will host seven matches.
England will face Ghana here on June 23. A quarter-final is also scheduled for July 9.
Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium) – Miami Gardens, Florida
The Miami Stadium has a capacity of 67,518. It will host seven matches.
Brazil will play Scotland here on June 24. Colombia will face Portugal on June 27.
Now that we have covered the American venues, let us look south at the historic stadiums in Mexico.
Mexico: A Land of Soccer History
Mexico is making history by hosting its third World Cup. No other country has done this before. The world cup 2026 venues list in Mexico includes three cities.
Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) – Mexico City
The Mexico City Stadium is one of the most famous shrines in soccer. It hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986. It has a massive capacity of 87,523.
This stadium will host the opening match of the tournament on June 11, 2026, featuring Mexico. In total, it will host five matches, including a Round of 16 match on July 5.
However, there is some news about delays. The stadium is undergoing a $150 million renovation. FIFA is watching closely to make sure everything is ready.
Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA) – Monterrey
The Estadio Monterrey is known for its beautiful view of the mountains. It has a capacity of 53,460.
Monterrey will host four matches. These include three group stage games and a Round of 32 match on June 29.
Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron) – Zapopan
The Estadio Guadalajara holds 48,071 people. It will host four matches.
The Mexican national team will play South Korea here on June 18. Similarly to Monterrey, all games here are group stage or early knockout matches.
Gradually, we move north to see how Canada is preparing for its first-ever men’s World Cup matches.
Canada: The Northern Frontier
Canada will host games in two major cities. This is a huge moment for Canadian sports fans.
Vancouver Stadium (BC Place) – Vancouver, British Columbia
The Vancouver Stadium is a beautiful venue with a capacity of 54,500. It will host seven matches.
Canada will play two of their group stage matches here, first on June 18 and then on June 24. The city will also host a Round of 16 match on July 7.
Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) – Toronto, Ontario
The Toronto Stadium is currently the smallest on the world cup 2026 host stadiums list. It has a base capacity of 45,736.
However, the city is investing $123 million to upgrade the venue. They are adding 17,000 temporary seats to bring the capacity to 45,000 for the tournament. Canada will play their first-ever home World Cup match here on June 12. In total, Toronto will host six matches.
Tournament Format and Key Dates
This is not your average World Cup. The expansion to 48 teams means the format has changed.
- Groups: There will be 12 groups of four teams each.
- Knockout Stage: The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams move to the Round of 32.
- Match Count: Teams must now play eight games to win the trophy instead of seven.
The full match schedule was announced in February 2024. The opening ceremony and first game are on June 11 in Mexico City. The final is July 19 in New Jersey.
Plus, there are fun things to look for like the official mascots. They are Maple the Moose (Canada), Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico), and Clutch the Bald Eagle (USA). The official match ball is the adidas TRIONDA, which means “three waves”.
Helpful Tips for Fans
If you are planning to travel, you need to be ready.
Tickets: You can register your interest for tickets on the official FIFA website. There are different phases for buying tickets, and demand is very high. Some resale prices are already very expensive.
Transport: In cities like Los Angeles, traffic can be very bad. Use public transit like the Metro K Line to get to SoFi Stadium. In Seattle, the stadium is right in the city, but you should still plan for crowds.
Preparation: Make sure your travel documents are ready. If you are coming from outside North America, apply for your visa early. Costs for a week-long trip could be between $3,000 and $5,000 per person.
FAQ
Where are the stadiums for the World Cup 2026?
The massive tournament takes place in 16 cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The United States holds matches in eleven spots. These include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Mexico features games in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Canada hosts the world in Toronto and Vancouver. Every city has its own unique flavor. Soccer history at its finest.
What are the top 5 biggest stadiums in the world?
The 2026 World Cup features some of the largest sports venues ever built. For this specific tournament, the top five stadiums by capacity are truly giants. Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) leads the pack with 92,967 seats. Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) follows closely with a capacity of 87,523. New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) holds 87,157 fans. Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) offers room for 76,640 people. Finally, Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) rounds out the top five with 75,000 seats. Big crowds. Huge energy.
Is Messi playing in the World Cup 2026?
Lionel Messi is currently a major focus for the 2026 tournament cycle. He remains a superstar in the soccer world and currently plays for Inter Miami in MLS. Argentina is the defending champion and aims to keep the trophy in 2026. While official team rosters are not confirmed yet, Messi is listed as one of the “26 Superstars” to watch for this global event. Fans around the world hope to see him on the pitch one more time. A dream for every fan.
Concluding Words
The 2026 World Cup will be a historic celebration of soccer across North America. Three countries. Sixteen cities. Forty-eight teams. This tournament is the largest in history and features 104 matches in world-class venues. From the legendary Estadio Azteca to the modern MetLife Stadium, the stage is set for an unforgettable summer. Fans should plan their travel and ticket applications now to be part of the action. The beautiful game has never been bigger. Get ready for the ride of a lifetime.
