
The 2022 FIFA men’s World Cup in Qatar hasn’t even happened yet, but the focus is already turning to what will be the biggest World Cup ever held in the history of the tournament in 2026. FIFA announced the World Cup 2026 Host Cities.
Moreover, The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature a 48-team expanded format, increasing the field from the current 32-team setup which has existed since 1998. Now let’s take a look at FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities
FIFA on June 16 announced its 16 venue selections for the 2026 event. For the first time, it will be held across three countries:
- North American nations the USA
- Canada
- Mexico
these three nations will team up to host the event with more teams (48) and matches (80) than ever before. The FIFA world governing body made its final decisions known with 16 stadiums selected:
- 11 in the USA
- 3 in Mexico
- 2 in Canada
World Cup host cities 2026 announcement
There were 22 host cities and 23 total venues (two in LA) on the shortlist for selection, but only 16 made the cut.
Those 16 cities were unveiled by region, starting with cities out west, followed by central region cities, and then the five cities in the east. A total of 60 matches will be played on U.S. soil with 10 each in Mexico and Canada.
The specific stages and the number of matches that each stadium will host have yet to be announced and that information was not part of the venue selection announcement. But after the event, FIFA officials indicated that when it comes to the World Cup final, the capacity will be “first and foremost” among the considerations taken into account.
It’s also worth noting that Toronto will be expanding BMO Field to meet FIFA’s capacity requirements. It will go from its current 30,000 capacity to 45,000 for the event in 2026.
NUMBER | STADIUM | CITY | COUNTRY | CAPACITY |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | BMO Field | Toronto | Canada | 45,500 |
2 | BC Place | Vancouver | Canada | 54,000 |
3 | Estadio Akron | Guadalajara | USA | 46,232 |
4 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | USA | 87,523 |
5 | Estadio BBVA | Monterrey | USA | 53,500 |
6 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, Ga | USA | 71,000 |
7 | Gillette Stadium | Boston, Mass. | USA | 65,878 |
8 | AT&T Stadium | Dallas | USA | 80,000 |
9 | NRG Stadium | Houston | USA | 71,795 |
10 | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City | USA | 76,416 |
11 | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles | USA | 70,240 |
12 | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami | USA | 64,767 |
13 | MetLife Stadium | New York | USA | 82,500 |
14 | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia | USA | 69,176 |
15 | Levi’s Stadium | San Francisco | USA | 68,500 |
16 | Lumen Field | Seattle | USA | 69,000 |
BMO Field’s current capacity is 30,000, which is below FIFA’s World Cup regulation minimum. Part of BMO Field’s bid submission is an expansion to a capacity of 45,500