WORLD CUP 2026
World Cup 2026 kicks off in Mexico with the final set for New York
FIFA have confirmed the schedule and venues for 48 team tournament which will be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed the key dates and venues for the high profile games at the forthcoming 2026 World Cup. New York-New Jersey’s Metlife Stadium will stage the biggest game in the expanded 48 team competition edging out Dallas’ AT&T which will host a semifinal match along with the city of Atlanta.
The Metlife was built between 2008 and 2010 and boasts a capacity of 82,500 spectators and is a multi-purpose venue located at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 8 km west of New York City. It serves as the home for both the New York Giants and the New York Jets NFL teams and cost approximately $1.6 billion to build. It was also the most expensive stadium in the United States at the time of its completion.
Mexico City also benefited from today’s FIFA announcement with the Estadio Azteca set to host the opening match for the third time in history. The Mexican national team open the tournament on 11 June, 2026 at the famous venue in the Santa Ursula area of the capital city with the iconic ground already hosting the matches that opened the 1970 and 1986 competitions.
Miami will have the honor of hosting the third and fourth place game which will be staged a day before the grand final on 18 June (2026).