FIFA, world football’s governing body, has announced that the 2026 World Cup will be played in 11 cities in the United States, as well as three in Mexico and two in Canada.
The 16 host cities will be: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver.
FIFA officials will decide at a later date which of the 16 cities will host the group stage and which will host the knockout games.
The 2026 Men’s World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time and will be played in three countries for the first time.
It will be the United States’ second World Cup after the first in 1994, and the third that Mexico has hosted in 1970 and 1986. It will be the first time the U.S. hosts a men’s World Cup match against Canada, although the country did host in 2015. The Women’s World Cup was held in 2008.
“We congratulate the 16 FIFA World Cup host cities for their outstanding commitment and enthusiasm,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a news conference. “Today is a historic day – for each of these cities and states. “Personally, for FIFA, for Canada, the United States and Mexico, they will put on the greatest show on earth. We look forward to working with them to deliver an unprecedented FIFA World Cup, and as we strive to make football truly global.” Changing the rules of the game in the process of globalization.”