Mexico receives the opening for the 2026 World Cup, while New Jersey wins. FIFA, the body that oversees world soccer, said on Sunday that the 2026 World Cup final and its whole schedule will take place in New Jersey, home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the National Football League.
The 48-team World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will end on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
In total, Canada will host 13 games, with 10 of those taking place in the group stage in Vancouver and Toronto, respectively.
Additionally, Mexico will play 13 games total, ten of which will be in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey during the group stage. Eleven American cities will host the remaining tournament rounds.
The home openers for each national team will be held in Toronto, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.
The 82,500-seat outdoor stadium served as the venue for the Copa America Centenario final in 2016, which saw Chile defeat Argentina on penalties for the second time, defeating Lionel Messi’s team. The stadium debuted in 2010.
The game kickoff times were not released by FIFA.
On June 11, Mexico will play the first game of the tournament at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, making history as the first country to host the World Cup three times. There will also be a game in Guadalajara on the first day.
In remarks that were translated, Mexico’s head coach Jaime Lozano stated that although his team would be under pressure to perform in front of home supporters, they are thrilled to be playing in the opening game and that it is a special day for both the national team and him.
Mexico hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986. At the Estadio Azteca, Brazil’s Pele defeated Italy 4-1 and Argentina’s Diego Maradona defeated West Germany 3-2 in the championship games.
Sweet Home, Home Sweet Home
The group stage will be held in the home nations of each tournament host; the US will remain on the West Coast, playing twice in Los Angeles and once in Seattle.Head coach Gregg Berhalter of the United States men’s national team stated, “We really count on the public getting behind us.”
“It’s a great group of guys, and I’m excited for the public to get to know some of our players and really get a personal connection with them.”
Mexico will play twice in Estadio Azteca and once in Guadalajara, while Canada will play one group stage match in Toronto and two in Vancouver.
Although Canada has only scored one goal in their two World Cup appearances and is winless in six games, interim head coach Mauro Biello acknowledged that expectations will be considerably higher when playing at home.
Beginning with the quarterfinal stage, which will take place in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami, and Boston, the tournament will be held entirely in the United States.
The two semifinals will take place in Dallas and Atlanta; the third-place playoff will take place in Miami; and on July 4, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a Round of 16 game will take place in Philadelphia.
