FIFA has announced all the 16 cities and venues that will host soccer games at the 2026 World Cup, with 11 of those selected being NFL stadia.
Set to kick off in the summer of 2026, for the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams, with the USA, Canada, and Mexico winning a joint bid to host the world’s biggest and most popular sporting event.
North America has no shortage of impressive sporting stadia which will be put to use at the tournament where 11 of the host cities are based in the country and are used for NFL. The list includes some of the finest examples of sporting stadia including SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which opened last year at a cost of over US$5bn. Others on the list include Mercedes-Benz Stadium, AT&T Stadium, and Levi’s Stadium – all renowned for their design and engineering innovation.
The full list of the FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums:
Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium: 74,295 capacity)
Boston (Gillette Stadium: 65,878 capacity)
Dallas (AT&T Stadium: 80,000 capacity)
Guadalajara, Mexico (Estadio Akron: 46,355 capacity)
Houston (NRG Stadium: 72,220 capacity)
Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium: 76,416 capacity)
Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium: 70,000 capacity)
Mexico City (Estadio Azteco: 87,523 capacity)
Miami (Hard Rock Stadium: 65,326 capacity)
Monterrey, Mexico (Estadio BBVA: 51,000 capacity)
New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium: 82,500 capacity)
Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field: 67,594 capacity)
San Francisco (Levi’s Stadium: 68,500 capacity)
Seattle (Lumen Field: 69,000 capacity)
Toronto, Canada (BMO Field: 30,000 capacity (to be expanded to 45,000))
Vancouver, Canada (BC Place: 54,000 capacity)
FIFA announced that today’s announcement follows the most transparent and comprehensive bidding process in football history, with FIFA’s decision having been made in the best interests of the game, taking into consideration the needs of all stakeholders involved in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“We congratulate the 16 FIFA World Cup Host Cities on their outstanding commitment and passion. Today is a historic day – for everyone in those cities and states, for FIFA, for Canada, the USA and Mexico who will put on the greatest show on Earth. We look forward to working together with them to deliver what will be an unprecedented FIFA World Cup and a game-changer as we strive to make football truly global,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
As part of the selection process, FIFA looked carefully at each city’s infrastructure and initiatives around the game. For one city, Houston, legacy has been at the core of Houston’s bid from the very start. Houston 2026 has launched a US$6m campaign with US Soccer Foundation to create 30 mini-pitches throughout the region to help grow the game and positively impact the lives of local youth. Houston Dynamo FC and Dash owner Ted Segal also provided financial backing for two grassroots youth soccer programs.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said:
“Today’s announcement is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the bid committee and many others. We are honored and excited to be awarded the opportunity to welcome sports fans worldwide to experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston. Our city’s diverse, community-driven, and innovative standing will deliver a memorable FIFA World Cup experience for the players, fans, and everyone involved. The FIFA World Cup will leave a legacy for the people in this city for generations to come.”
Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee board member Michael Heckman said:
“Houston is the premier destination for hosting major events and embraces every opportunity to engage with a diverse and global audience. In a city where 1 in 4 of our residents are from another part of the world, visitors will feel an immediate sense of our welcoming spirit. Hosting the FIFA World Cup matches in 2026 will be a tremendous opportunity to show the world what our great city has to offer,” said Michael Heckman, President & CEO, Houston First Corporation.
