US, Canada, Mexico to co-host expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will open on June 11 in Mexico City and conclude on July 19 in New Jersey, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico becoming the first trio to jointly host the tournament since its inception in Uruguay in 1930.

Tournament Scope and Venues

The competition will feature 104 matches played across 16 stadiums spanning four time zones, with the United States hosting 78 of those fixtures including the final at New Jersey Stadium. Dallas Stadium will serve as the largest venue with a capacity of 94,000 spectators, while Toronto's stadium is the smallest at 45,000.

The opening match will see Mexico face South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, June 11, kicking off six weeks of competition involving 48 teams — an expanded field from previous editions. The final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at the New Jersey venue.

Historical Precedent

Twenty-one of the previous 22 World Cups since 1930 have been hosted by a single country, with the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea standing as the only previous shared hosting arrangement. That edition marked Asia's first time staging the event, with Brazil defeating Germany 2-0 in the final and Türkiye securing third place by beating South Korea.

The 2026 tournament returns to North America 32 years after the United States hosted the 1994 edition and four decades following Mexico's second turn as host in 1986. Canada will be staging the men's World Cup for the first time.