The 2026 edition of the men’s World Cup football championship brings the tournament to three host nations across North America: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Sixteen metropolitan areas will stage 104 matches in a format expanded to 48 national teams. The stage is set in existing, large-capacity arenas—no brand-new stadiums were built exclusively for this event—showcasing engineering, atmosphere, and fan amenities already proven in major competitions.
This guide gathers all essential venue information in one place: a complete stadium list, host city mapping, capacities, regional groupings, and match designations (including the opening match, semi-finals, and the final). It also summarizes the format update (12 groups of 4) and the expanded qualification slots by confederation—all to help fans quickly understand where the action takes place.
Quick Highlights
- Three co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States.
- 48 teams, 104 matches.
- No new stadiums constructed solely for the tournament.
- Record for Mexico: host nation for a third time.
- Venue cap: maximum eight matches at a single stadium.
- Final: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York area).
- Semi-finals: AT&T Stadium (Arlington/Dallas area) and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta).
- Opening match: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
What’s New in 2026: Format & Qualification Snapshot
Tournament Format (Teams & Groups)
- 48 teams organized into 12 groups of 4.
- Top two from each group advance, plus the eight best third-placed sides.
- That creates a 32-team knockout bracket for the second phase.
- This revised plan ensures every team plays at least three matches with more balanced rest across the schedule.
Qualification Allocation (Confederation Slots)
- AFC (Asia): 8 places.
- CAF (Africa): 9 places.
- CONCACAF: 6 places (including 3 host berths).
- CONMEBOL (South America): 6 places.
- OFC (Oceania): 1 place.
- UEFA (Europe): 16 places.
- Inter-confederation play-off: awards 2 additional spots (all confederations except UEFA participate).
Regional Grouping of Host Cities
To streamline logistics for teams and fans, the host cities are grouped into three broad geographical clusters:
- Western: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), Los Angeles (Inglewood), Guadalajara (Zapopan)
- Central: Kansas City, Dallas/Arlington, Houston, Atlanta, Monterrey (Guadalupe), Mexico City
- Eastern: Toronto, Boston/Foxborough, New York/East Rutherford, Philadelphia, Miami
Complete List of FIFA World Cup 2026 Venues
Below is the master table of stadiums, venues, matched with their city/metro area, country, and tournament capacity. Notes highlight key designations such as opening match, semi-finals, and final.
| Stadium | City / Metro | Country | Tournament Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT&T Stadium | Arlington (Dallas area) | United States | 92,967 | Semi-final site; hosts multiple knockout ties |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico | 87,523 | Opening match venue; iconic ground with deep tournament history |
| MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford (New York area) | United States | 87,157 | Final venue |
| Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, MO | United States | 76,640 | High-decibel atmosphere; quarter-final host |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA | United States | 75,000 | Semi-final site; distinctive retractable roof |
| NRG Stadium | Houston, TX | United States | 72,220 | Retractable roof; multiple knockout fixtures |
| Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara (San Francisco Bay Area) | United States | 70,909 | Quarter-final host |
| SoFi Stadium | Inglewood (Los Angeles area) | United States | 70,240 | Host of USA group matches and a quarter-final |
| Gillette Stadium | Foxborough (Greater Boston) | United States | 70,000 | Quarter-final host |
| Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | United States | 69,328 | Multiple high-profile ties |
| Lumen Field | Seattle, WA | United States | 69,000 | USA group matches scheduled here |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens (Miami area) | United States | 67,518 | Quarter-final and third-place match |
| BC Place | Vancouver, BC | Canada | 54,500 | Expanded slate of fixtures |
| Estadio BBVA | Guadalupe (Monterrey) | Mexico | 53,460 | Modern bowl with mountain views |
| Estadio Akron | Zapopan (Guadalajara) | Mexico | 48,071 | Key group stage venue |
| BMO Field | Toronto, ON | Canada | 45,500 | Capacity enhanced for the tournament |
Note: Capacities listed here are the tournament configurations communicated for this event and may differ from domestic club or NFL seating numbers due to pitch dimensions and tournament overlay.
Country-by-Country Overview
Mexico (3 Host Cities)
1) Estadio Azteca — Mexico City
- Capacity: 87,523
- Role: Opening match venue; part of a select group to have staged multiple previous tournament finals.
- Scheduled matches: 1 (Opening), 24, 53, 79, 92
- Why it matters: A landmark of the sport, this arena adds fresh history to a storied past while welcoming a new, expanded field of competitors.
2) Estadio BBVA — Guadalupe (Monterrey)
- Capacity: 53,460
- Scheduled matches: 12, 36, 54, 75
- Defining features: A contemporary design with sightlines that keep supporters tight to the action. The northwest stands frame views of Cerro de la Silla.
3) Estadio Akron — Zapopan (Guadalajara)
- Capacity: 48,071
- Scheduled matches: 2, 28, 48, 66
- Snapshot: A primary group-stage stop in western Mexico, complementing the region’s cluster with Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
Canada (2 Host Cities)
1) BC Place — Vancouver, British Columbia
- Capacity: 54,500
- Scheduled matches: 6, 27, 40, 51, 64, 85, 96
- Venue profile: A proven multi-event arena with a retractable-roof solution and an established track record hosting global competitions.
2) BMO Field — Toronto, Ontario
- Capacity: 45,500 (tournament configuration)
- Scheduled matches: 3, 21, 33, 46, 62, 83
- Venue profile: Located just west of the downtown core with a capacity uplift for the event, building a lively atmosphere within its open-air bowl.
United States (11 Host Cities)
1) MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford (New York area)
- Capacity: 87,157
- Role: Final venue
- Scheduled matches: 7, 17, 41, 56, 67, 77, 91, 104 (Final)
- Venue profile: A major multipurpose site with a long list of landmark sports and entertainment events.
2) AT&T Stadium — Arlington (Dallas area)
- Capacity: 92,967
- Role: Semi-final venue
- Scheduled matches: 11, 22, 43, 57, 70, 78, 88, 93, 101 (Semi-final)
- Venue profile: A monumental indoor space with a retractable dome and colossal central video board—designed for massive sporting occasions.
3) Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta
- Capacity: 75,000
- Role: Semi-final venue
- Scheduled matches: 14, 25, 38, 50, 72, 80, 95, 102 (Semi-final)
- Venue profile: Signature features include an eight-panel pinwheel-style retractable roof and a 360-degree halo videoboard.
4) SoFi Stadium — Inglewood (Los Angeles area)
- Capacity: 70,240
- Role: Host of USA group matches; quarter-final
- Scheduled matches: 4, 15, 26, 39, 59, 73, 84, 98 (Quarter-final)
- Venue profile: An indoor-outdoor concept with translucent canopy and a suspended dual-sided videoboard.
5) Lumen Field — Seattle
- Capacity: 69,000
- Role: Host of USA group matches
- Scheduled matches: 16, 32, 52, 63, 82, 94
- Venue profile: A steep, intimate bowl renowned for acoustics and urban skyline views.
6) Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara (San Francisco Bay Area)
- Capacity: 70,909
- Role: Quarter-final venue
- Scheduled matches: 8, 20, 31, 44, 60, 81
- Venue profile: A modern, open-air facility with strong sightlines, anchoring the Bay Area’s slate of matches.
7) Gillette Stadium — Foxborough (Greater Boston)
- Capacity: 70,000
- Role: Quarter-final venue
- Scheduled matches: 5, 18, 30, 45, 61, 74, 97 (Quarter-final)
- Venue profile: Wide concourses and an observation-deck lighthouse create memorable vantage points.
8) Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens (Miami area)
- Capacity: 67,518
- Role: Quarter-final and third-place match venue
- Scheduled matches: 13, 37, 49, 71, 86, 99 (Quarter-final), 103 (Third place)
- Venue profile: A renovated bowl with shading canopies, large videoboards, and party terraces.
9) NRG Stadium — Houston
- Capacity: 72,220
- Scheduled matches: 10, 23, 35, 47, 65, 76, 90
- Venue profile: Retractable roof, robust AV systems, and a multi-venue campus (NRG Park) for handling large matchday flows.
10) Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City
- Capacity: 76,640
- Role: Quarter-final venue
- Scheduled matches: 19, 34, 58, 69, 87, 100 (Quarter-final)
- Venue profile: Famous for its crowd-roar record, delivering a raucous, high-energy setting.
11) Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia
- Capacity: 69,328
- Scheduled matches: 9, 29, 42, 55, 68, 89
- Venue profile: An established stage for top-level men’s and women’s internationals and major continental tournaments.
Stadiums by Country (Concise List)
Mexico
- Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) – 87,523
- Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe/Monterrey) – 53,460
- Estadio Akron (Zapopan/Guadalajara) – 48,071
Canada
- BC Place (Vancouver) – 54,500
- BMO Field (Toronto) – 45,500
United States
- AT&T Stadium (Arlington/Dallas area) – 92,967
- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford/New York area) – 87,157
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) – 76,640
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – 75,000
- NRG Stadium (Houston) – 72,220
- Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara/Bay Area) – 70,909
- SoFi Stadium (Inglewood/Los Angeles area) – 70,240
- Gillette Stadium (Foxborough/Boston area) – 70,000
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) – 69,328
- Lumen Field (Seattle) – 69,000
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens) – 67,518
Grouping by Tournament Role
| Role / Milestone | Venue | City / Metro | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Match | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico |
| Semi-final 1 | AT&T Stadium | Arlington (Dallas area) | United States |
| Semi-final 2 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | United States |
| Third-Place Match | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens (Miami area) | United States |
| Final | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford (New York area) | United States |
Western • Central • Eastern: How the Map Helps Fans
The western corridor links Vancouver, Seattle, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Guadalajara—a spread of state-of-the-art venues within relatively manageable flight times. The central line runs through the American heartland and northern Mexico—Kansas City, Dallas/Arlington, Houston, Atlanta, Monterrey, and Mexico City—offering a dense cluster of matches in major transportation hubs. The eastern flank connects Toronto, Boston/Foxborough, New York/East Rutherford, Philadelphia, and Miami, ensuring signature fixtures along one of the world’s busiest travel corridors.
This tri-regional layout supports:
- Balanced rest between fixtures across distances.
- Travel efficiency for teams and supporters.
- Local fan bases experiencing multiple matchdays in quick succession.
At-a-Glance: Match Number Mapping (as provided)
For quick reference, here are the match number assignments supplied for key venues:
- Estadio Azteca (Mexico City): 1 (Opening), 24, 53, 79, 92
- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford): 7, 17, 41, 56, 67, 77, 91, 104 (Final)
- AT&T Stadium (Arlington): 11, 22, 43, 57, 70, 78, 88, 93, 101 (Semi-final)
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta): 14, 25, 38, 50, 72, 80, 95, 102 (Semi-final)
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens): 13, 37, 49, 71, 86, 99 (Quarter-final), 103 (Third place)
- SoFi Stadium (Inglewood): 4, 15, 26, 39, 59, 73, 84, 98 (Quarter-final)
- Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara): 8, 20, 31, 44, 60, 81
- Gillette Stadium (Foxborough): 5, 18, 30, 45, 61, 74, 97 (Quarter-final)
- NRG Stadium (Houston): 10, 23, 35, 47, 65, 76, 90
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City): 19, 34, 58, 69, 87, 100 (Quarter-final)
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia): 9, 29, 42, 55, 68, 89
- Lumen Field (Seattle): 16, 32, 52, 63, 82, 94
- BC Place (Vancouver): 6, 27, 40, 51, 64, 85, 96
- BMO Field (Toronto): 3, 21, 33, 46, 62, 83
- Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe/Monterrey): 12, 36, 54, 75
- Estadio Akron (Zapopan/Guadalajara): 2, 28, 48, 66
These designations follow the supplied match mapping for the tournament and reflect the event plan described for each venue.
Stadium Snapshots (All Venues)
Mexico
- Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, 87,523): A historic football cathedral hosting the opening match and additional key fixtures.
- Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe/Monterrey, 53,460): Modern bowl, strong sightlines, mountainous backdrop; four matches assigned.
- Estadio Akron (Zapopan/Guadalajara, 48,071): Western-region group stage anchor; four fixtures.
Canada
- BC Place (Vancouver, 54,500): Up to seven matches, established roofed arena with a global-event résumé.
- BMO Field (Toronto, 45,500): Capacity enhancements for the event; six fixtures on the shores of Lake Ontario.
United States
- MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, 87,157): Final venue for the championship decider.
- AT&T Stadium (Arlington, 92,967): Semi-final stage in a vast, climate-controlled enclosure.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, 75,000): Semi-final venue featuring a retractable-roof pinwheel.
- SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, 70,240): Host of USA group matches and a quarter-final; indoor-outdoor design.
- Lumen Field (Seattle, 69,000): Host of USA group matches; renowned crowd energy and urban views.
- Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, 70,909): Quarter-final in a high-amenity Bay Area facility.
- Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, 70,000): Quarter-final venue with signature lighthouse look-out.
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, 67,518): Quarter-final and third-place match in a refreshed bowl with shading canopies.
- NRG Stadium (Houston, 72,220): Seven matches under a retractable roof; advanced AV systems.
- Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, 76,640): Quarter-final and the tournament’s most thunderous acoustics.
- Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, 69,328): Six fixtures in a venue comfortable with elite international soccer.
Why No New Stadiums?
The tournament’s North American blueprint capitalizes on existing top-tier infrastructure. These venues already:
- Meet or exceed capacity and safety thresholds.
- Provide robust transport links, broadcast facilities, and accessibility.
- Offer fan-tested amenities, from concourses and concessions to high-resolution videoboards and contemporary seating.
This approach reduces build timelines, leans on proven operations, and emphasizes match quality and spectator experience.
Fast Facts You’ll Want Handy
- Total venues: 16
- Countries: 3 (Canada, Mexico, United States)
- Opening match: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Semi-finals: AT&T Stadium (Arlington) and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- Final: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
- Max matches per venue: 8
- Teams: 48 (12 groups of 4)
- Total matches: 104
Tables for Planning
Venues by Capacity (High to Low)
| Rank | Stadium | City / Metro | Country | Tournament Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AT&T Stadium | Arlington (Dallas area) | USA | 92,967 |
| 2 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico | 87,523 |
| 3 | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford (New York area) | USA | 87,157 |
| 4 | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City | USA | 76,640 |
| 5 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | USA | 75,000 |
| 6 | NRG Stadium | Houston | USA | 72,220 |
| 7 | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara (Bay Area) | USA | 70,909 |
| 8 | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood (Los Angeles area) | USA | 70,240 |
| 9 | Gillette Stadium | Foxborough (Greater Boston) | USA | 70,000 |
| 10 | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia | USA | 69,328 |
| 11 | Lumen Field | Seattle | USA | 69,000 |
| 12 | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens | USA | 67,518 |
| 13 | BC Place | Vancouver | Canada | 54,500 |
| 14 | Estadio BBVA | Guadalupe (Monterrey) | Mexico | 53,460 |
| 15 | Estadio Akron | Zapopan (Guadalajara) | Mexico | 48,071 |
| 16 | BMO Field | Toronto | Canada | 45,500 |
Western / Central / Eastern Venues
| Region | Stadiums |
|---|---|
| Western | BC Place (Vancouver), Lumen Field (Seattle), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara), SoFi Stadium (Inglewood), Estadio Akron (Zapopan) |
| Central | Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), AT&T Stadium (Arlington), NRG Stadium (Houston), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe), Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) |
| Eastern | BMO Field (Toronto), Gillette Stadium (Foxborough), MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens) |
How the Venues Complement the Expanded Format
With 12 groups and a knockout bracket beginning at 32 teams, the stadium network distributes group fixtures across all three nations and positions larger arenas for marquee knockout ties. The final sits in a tri-state metro with significant aviation and accommodation capacity, while semi-finals land in two of the United States’ most advanced multi-purpose stadiums. Opening night returns to a venue woven into football folklore, connecting past, present, and a larger future field.
Frequently Referenced Venue Roles (One-Line Recap)
- Opening match: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
- Final: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
- Semi-finals: AT&T Stadium (Arlington) & Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- Quarter-finals among: SoFi (Inglewood), Levi’s (Santa Clara), Gillette (Foxborough), Arrowhead (Kansas City)
- Third-place match: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
- USA group matches: SoFi (Inglewood) and Lumen Field (Seattle)
Final Word
From Mexico City’s legendary Azteca to East Rutherford’s final stage, from the Pacific Northwest to South Florida, the 2026 tournament uses a continental canvas of proven venues to deliver football on a vast scale. The three-nation plan, the expanded field of teams, and the stadium lineup form a coherent whole: celebrated arenas, major metros, and match allocations that fit the tournament’s broadened scope. Use the tables above to track where and how many matches each venue hosts, and keep this guide handy as your one-page venue map for the biggest World Cup to date.