World Cup 2026

April 9, 2025 | WorldCupFutbol.com Staff

FIFA has officially confirmed the final list of 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This historic tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams and will be hosted across three countries for the first time in World Cup history.

The United States will host 11 venues, while Mexico and Canada will each host three and two venues, respectively. The selected cities were chosen based on stadium capacity, infrastructure, accessibility, and overall readiness to host international matches.

United States Host Cities:

• New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)
• Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium)
• Dallas (AT&T Stadium)
• Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
• Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
• Seattle (Lumen Field)
• San Francisco/Bay Area (Levi's Stadium)
• Boston (Gillette Stadium)
• Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)
• Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)
• Houston (NRG Stadium)

Mexico Host Cities:

• Mexico City (Estadio Azteca)
• Monterrey (Estadio BBVA)
• Guadalajara (Estadio Akron)

Canada Host Cities:

• Toronto (BMO Field)
• Vancouver (BC Place)

FIFA President stated, "The 2026 World Cup will be a tournament of unprecedented scale and scope. With 48 teams playing 80 matches across 16 world-class venues, we are setting the stage for the biggest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history."

Stadium renovations and infrastructure improvements are already underway in several host cities to ensure they meet FIFA's strict requirements for hosting World Cup matches. The tournament is expected to attract millions of visitors to North America and generate billions in economic impact across the three host nations.

April 1, 2025 | WorldCupFutbol.com Staff

FIFA has unveiled the qualification process for the expanded 48-team format that will debut at the 2026 World Cup. The new format will see a significant increase in participating teams from the previous 32-team structure, creating more opportunities for nations around the world.

The allocation of qualification spots by confederation is as follows:

• AFC (Asia): 8 teams (up from 4.5)
• CAF (Africa): 9 teams (up from 5)
• CONCACAF (North America): 6 teams (up from 3.5), plus 3 automatic qualifiers (USA, Mexico, Canada as hosts)
• CONMEBOL (South America): 6 teams (up from 4.5)
• OFC (Oceania): 1 team (up from 0.5)
• UEFA (Europe): 16 teams (up from 13)

The qualification tournaments will begin in March 2023 and run through November 2025, giving teams ample time to compete for a spot in the historic tournament.

"The expanded format not only means more participation, more matches, and more excitement on the field, but also increased investment in football development across the globe," said the FIFA Secretary General. "This is a watershed moment for football's global growth."

The new tournament format will feature 16 groups of three teams each, with the top two from each group advancing to a 32-team knockout stage. This format ensures that every team plays a minimum of two matches, addressing concerns about teams potentially being eliminated after just one game.

March 15, 2025 | WorldCupFutbol.com Staff

A comprehensive economic impact study commissioned by the 2026 World Cup organizing committee projects that the tournament will generate approximately $11 billion in economic activity across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The study, conducted by a leading economic research firm, estimates that the tournament will create over 100,000 jobs and attract more than 5 million visitors to North America during the month-long event.

"The 2026 World Cup represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for economic growth and international exposure," said the chair of the organizing committee. "Beyond the immediate economic impact, the tournament will leave a lasting legacy in terms of infrastructure improvements, increased tourism, and growing interest in soccer across North America."

Key findings from the economic impact study include:

• Direct spending by visitors estimated at $3.1 billion
• Media and broadcasting revenue projected at $4.5 billion
• Infrastructure investments totaling $2.8 billion
• Long-term tourism boost valued at $600 million over five years

Host cities are already developing plans to maximize the economic benefits of the tournament, including fan festivals, cultural events, and business development initiatives that will run alongside the matches.