WORLD CUP 2026
Dallas in line to host 2026 World Cup final with tournament to start in Mexico City
According to reports from ESPN, Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca will host the opening match of the 2026 competition that will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US.
North America is set to be the principal global soccer destination in the forthcoming years as the United States is set to host the 2024 Copa América and the new 2025 Club World Cup. The main attraction however comes in 2026 when the 48 team World Cup kicks off in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
According to information from José del Valle, a well connected ESPN journalist, the first match of the World Cup will be played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with El Tri kick starting the competition and Del Valle claims that the final game will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (home of NFL side Dallas Cowboys).
The ESPN correspondent also maintains that: “as of today, Dallas will host the final, Dallas holds an advantage over LA and second placed MetLife Stadium in New Jersey which is also being considered as the venue for the final game”.
USMNT debut in 2026
The United States National Team would play its first match of the 2026 World Cup in North America at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The venue is home to NFL teams LA Rams and LA Chargers. Super Bowl LV has already been held and the recent 2023 Gold Cup final was played in Inglewood as Mexico saw off Panama in the final.
Stadium capacities
The Azteca Stadium in the Mexican capital is set to undergo renovation work and will have a final capacity of 83,264 fans. The SoFi Stadium, which will be the home of the USMNT for its World Cup premiere, has a capacity for 70,000; while the proposed final venue in Texas boasts a total capacity for 80,000 spectators.