2026 World Cup closing stadium chosen as schedule is mapped out for match

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup closing, it has been introduced.

The United States is because of host the upcoming match alongside Mexico and Canada. The U.S. final welcomed the match to its shores in 1994, whereas this would be the third time Mexico has had internet hosting duties since 1970.

MetLife Stadium is dwelling to 2 NFL franchises – the New York Giants and New York Jets – and holds a capability crowd of 82,500. The area will wrap up the primary 48-team version of the match, which is because of final for a document 39 days.

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Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium will maintain the competitors’s opening fixture, although neither the Mexico the Canada will host any fixtures after the spherical of 16. A complete of 16 host cities have been picked for the match, which is able to run from June 11 to July 19.

The match’s semi-finals will happen in Dallas and Atlanta, whereas Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will host the third-place play-off. Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara would be the three host cities in Mexico, whereas Toronto and Vancouver are the 2 Canadian cities readily available.



MetLife Stadium holds a capability crowd of 82,500
(Image: Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

The 48 groups might be sorted into 12 teams of 4 earlier than the match levels a spherical of 32 for the primary time. Argentina will enter as defending champions for the primary time since 1990 after Diego Maradona led La Albiceleste to soccer’s holy grail at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium 4 years prior.

“To have the final in New York/New Jersey is a dream come true for me being from that area,” stated United States supervisor Gregg Berhalter after Sunday’s announcement. “Another space with a wealthy custom in soccer and producing gamers.



The Azteca Stadium – the place Diego Maradona lifted the 1986 World Cup – will host the opening match in 2026
(Image: Bob Thomas Sports Photography by way of Getty Images)

“To think about being a little kid and going to that stadium to watch the Cosmos and now a World Cup final there is special.”

The Stars and Stripes have made it to the spherical of 16 in every of their final three World Cup appearances, whereas, co-hosts Canada have by no means superior past the group stage. Meanwhile, Mexico fell out within the first spherical at Qatar 2022, the primary time since 1990 during which El Tri failed to succeed in the knockout rounds.

2026 World Cup location schedule

Group stage (June 11-27) Matches might be held in Vancouver, Toronto, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta. Miami, Boston, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey.

Round of 32 (June 29-July 3): All host cities besides Guadalajara and Philadelphia. Los Angeles and Dallas will host two matches apiece.

Round of 16 (July 4-7): Matches held in Vancouver, Seattle, Mexico City, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey.

Quarter-finals (July 11th of September): Matches held in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston.

Semi-finals (July 14-15): Dallas and Atlanta.

Final (July 19): New York/New Jersey.

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