New Jersey To Host FIFA World Cup Final

The 2026 World Cup final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, as announced by FIFA on Sunday.

The New York bid successfully fended off a strong challenge from Dallas to secure the July 19 game, marking the culmination of the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The competition will kick off with the opening game at Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium on June 11.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino stated, "The most inclusive and impactful FIFA World Cup ever is no longer a dream but a reality that will take shape in the form of 104 matches in 16 state-of-the-art stadiums across Canada, Mexico, and the USA."

He added, "From the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca to the spectacular final in New York New Jersey, players and fans have been at the core of our extensive planning for this game-changing tournament... that will not only set new records but also leave an indelible legacy."

Atlanta and Dallas will host the semi-finals, while the third-place game will be played in Miami. The quarter-final games are scheduled for Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, and Boston.

A total of 16 cities across the three countries will host games, with the majority of matches held in the USA.

MetLife Stadium, with a seating capacity of 82,500, will be the venue for the final. It is situated across the Hudson River from New York in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and serves as the home stadium for the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.

The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which hosted the finals of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, will become the first stadium to host World Cup tournament games in three separate editions.

The United States will kick off the group stage competition at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12, with additional matches scheduled in Seattle.

The tournament's expansion to 48 teams will result in 104 games across 16 venues, with the format featuring 12 groups of four teams, followed by a straight knock-out format. FIFA aims to limit travel for teams, with the match schedule set to be finalized after the qualification process concludes. The full draw for the tournament is expected to take place in late 2025.

The 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup are: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York-New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.