World Cup 2026: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to host World Cup final on 19 July

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July, whereas Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will stage the opening group sport on 11 June.

Mexico is one among three international locations co-hosting the expanded 48-team event together with USA and Canada which can final a report 39 days.

They have hosted two World Cups in 1970 and 1986, whereas the US hosted in 1994.

Canada are first-time hosts and their opening sport is in Toronto on 12 June.

The United States will play their opening match at So-Fi Stadium in Los Angeles additionally on 12 June

The Azteca was the venue for Argentina striker Diego Maradona’s well-known ‘Hand of God’ objective in the 2-1 win in opposition to England in the 1986 quarter-finals and has a capability of 83,000.

MetLife Stadium, dwelling to American soccer groups the New York Giants and New York Jets, relies in New Jersey’s East Rutherford and might maintain 82,500 followers. It was one of many host stadiums for the 1994 World Cup.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino, alongside comic and actor Kevin Hart, rapper Drake and movie star Kim Kardashian, introduced the plans on Sunday and in addition revealed the third-place play-off match will happen in Miami.

The quarter-finals onwards can be held in US cities, with Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston internet hosting last-eight matches, whereas the semi-finals can be in Dallas and Atlanta. Dallas will host a report 9 matches.

The draw for the World Cup is predicted to happen in the direction of the tip of 2025.

The event will final 10 extra days than the 2022 version in Qatar.

In whole, 16 cities have been chosen together with Monterrey and Guadalajara in Mexico, and Vancouver in Canada.

Philadelphia, Houston, Seattle and San Francisco are the opposite US host cities.

Only one metropolis, Guadalajara, won’t host a knockout sport.

Teams are possible to face a considerable amount of journey between video games.

The shortest distance between a quarter-final and a semi-final venue is simply over 500 miles from Kansas City to Dallas whereas the longest – between Los Angeles and Atlanta – is just below 2,200 miles.

Infantino stated “players and fans have been at the core of our extensive planning for this game-changing tournament” and will probably be a event that can “not only set new records but also leave an indelible legacy”.

Fifa stated the schedule was drawn up in session with stakeholders together with nationwide workforce coaches and technical administrators.

The governing physique says groups can have three days of relaxation for 103 of the event’s report 104 matches.

“The tournament’s innovative match schedule will serve to minimise travel for teams and fans alike, while the number of rest days between fixtures will be maximised,” the governing physique stated.

The new format will characteristic 12 four-team teams and a last-32 knockout spherical for the primary time.

The event hosts will play the group stage in their very own international locations, with the US staying on the West Coast with two video games in LA and one in Seattle.

Canada will play one group stage sport in Toronto adopted by two in Vancouver whereas Mexico will play twice on the Azteca and as soon as in Guadalajara.