On Sunday, FIFA organizers announced that the 2026 World Cup final would be hosted at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. The New York bid successfully fended off a robust challenge from Dallas, securing the July 19th championship match, which marks the culmination of the expanded 48-team tournament jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The tournament is set to commence with the opening game at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium on June 11. Atlanta and Dallas have been designated as the venues for the semi-finals, while the third-place game will unfold in Miami.
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The decisions were unveiled during a live television broadcast in North America, featuring FIFA president Gianni Infantino alongside comedian and actor Kevin Hart, rapper Drake, and celebrity Kim Kardashian.
MetLife Stadium, boasting a capacity of 82,500 seats and situated across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets. It has previously hosted international football games, including the final of the 2016 Copa America tournament.
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MetLife Stadium Fast Facts
Cost: $1.6 billion
Venue Size: 2.1 million square feet
Capacity: 82,500
The successful New York bid emphasized the city’s expertise in hosting major international events and its status as a global city with convenient transportation connections for fans. Meanwhile, Dallas had pinned its hopes on AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, which features a roof to shield the game from weather elements.
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Los Angeles also vied for the hosting rights, but their bid faced challenges due to disagreements with FIFA over necessary tournament upgrades to their NFL venue, SoFi Stadium.
The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will make history by becoming the first venue to host World Cup tournament games in three separate editions, having previously hosted finals in 1970 and 1986.
The United States will kick off their group stage campaign at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12, with additional matches scheduled in Seattle. Toronto has been selected to host the first game for the Canadian team, while Vancouver is the other Canadian venue slated to host matches.
