New Jersey to host 2026 World Cup Final

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to host the 2026 World Cup final, while the 39-day tournament will commence at Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium. FIFA has officially confirmed the match schedule for the event, marking the first time the World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams.

Home to NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets, MetLife Stadium has a capacity of approximately 82,500. Opened in 2010, it replaced Giants Stadium, a host venue for the 1994 World Cup held solely in the United States.

Mexico, which previously hosted World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986, will have the Aztec Stadium as the opening match venue for the third time, making history as the first ground to do so.

The AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will serve as semi-final venues, while the third-place play-off is set to take place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. Other U.S. venues include Gillette Stadium, NRG Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, and Levi’s Stadium.

Dallas will host the most matches—nine in total—during the tournament. All co-hosts will play their three group-stage fixtures on home soil, with Canada’s first game in Toronto on June 12 and the USA’s opening match at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on the same day.

The 2026 World Cup, spanning 56 days, will introduce 12 four-team groups and a last-32 knockout round, with a total of 104 matches. Remaining match details will be confirmed after the draw, expected to take place towards the end of 2025.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino expressed excitement, stating, “The most inclusive and impactful World Cup ever is no longer a dream but a reality that will take shape in the form of 104 matches in 16 state-of-the-art stadiums across Canada, Mexico, and the USA.”

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