2026 FIFA World Cup USA: Host Cities, Schedule, TV & Tickets
The 2026 FIFA World Cup USA edition will stage 78 of the tournament’s 104 matches across 11 American host cities. The United States serves as the main host for the first 48-team World Cup. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Canada and Mexico host the other 26 matches.
This is the first men’s World Cup on American soil since 1994. FIFA held the Final Draw on December 5, 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The draw set the 12 groups of four teams that play the group stage.
Quick Facts: 2026 FIFA World Cup USA
- Tournament dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026
- Total matches: 104
- Matches in USA: 78 (75% of the tournament)
- US host cities: 11
- US team group: Group D (with Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye)
- USMNT opener: June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium
- Final venue: New York New Jersey Stadium
- English broadcaster: FOX and FS1
- Spanish broadcaster: Telemundo and Universo
USA Host Cities and Stadiums at 2026 FIFA World Cup USA
Eleven United States cities will host 2026 FIFA World Cup USA matches. FIFA placed the venues into three regions to reduce team travel. Each stadium has two names. The first is the FIFA tournament name. The second is the regular commercial name.
Eastern Region
| City | FIFA Name | Commercial Name | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York/New Jersey | New York New Jersey Stadium | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | 8 |
| Boston | Boston Stadium | Gillette Stadium | 65,000 | 7 |
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia Stadium | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,000 | 6 |
| Miami | Miami Stadium | Hard Rock Stadium | 65,000 | 7 |
| Atlanta | Atlanta Stadium | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 75,000 | 8 |
The East Coast hosts the tournament’s biggest moments. New York New Jersey Stadium will host the World Cup Final on July 19, 2026. Miami Stadium stages the third-place match on July 18. Atlanta Stadium hosts one of the two semifinals on July 15.
Philadelphia Stadium and Houston Stadium will both hold special ceremonies on July 4, 2026, to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Central Region
| City | FIFA Name | Commercial Name | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | Dallas Stadium | AT&T Stadium | 94,000 | 9 |
| Houston | Houston Stadium | NRG Stadium | 72,000 | 7 |
| Kansas City | Kansas City Stadium | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | 76,000 | 6 |
Dallas Stadium hosts more matches than any other venue at the tournament. It will hold nine matches including a semifinal on July 14. The stadium has a retractable roof.
Houston Stadium also has a closing roof. Kansas City Stadium holds the Guinness World Record for the loudest outdoor stadium.
Western Region
| City | FIFA Name | Commercial Name | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles Stadium | SoFi Stadium | 70,000 | 8 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium | Levi’s Stadium | 68,500 | 6 |
| Seattle | Seattle Stadium | Lumen Field | 69,000 | 6 |
The western venues host the United States men’s team for all three group matches. Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood hosts the USMNT opener on June 12 and the team’s third group match on June 25.
Seattle Stadium hosts the second USMNT match on June 19. Los Angeles also gets two Round of 32 matches and a quarterfinal on July 10.
How Many Matches Take Place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup USA?
The United States hosts 78 of the 104 tournament matches. That covers 75% of the entire tournament. Canada hosts 13 matches in Toronto and Vancouver. Mexico hosts 13 matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
All four quarterfinals, both semifinals, the third-place match and the final take place at United States stadiums.
The knockout matches break down like this:
- Round of 32: June 28 to July 3 (16 matches across all three host countries)
- Round of 16: July 4 to 7 (8 matches)
- Quarterfinals: July 9 to 11 (4 matches, all in USA)
- Semifinals: July 14 (Dallas) and July 15 (Atlanta)
- Third-place match: July 18 (Miami)
- Final: July 19 (New York New Jersey Stadium)
Dallas Stadium leads with nine fixtures. Every United States host city gets at least six matches.
USMNT Group Stage Schedule at 2026 FIFA World Cup USA
The Final Draw on December 5, 2025 placed the United States in Group D. The group includes Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. Türkiye qualified through the UEFA playoff path in March 2026.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Stadium | City | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | June 12, 2026 | Paraguay | Los Angeles Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 9:00 PM |
| Match 2 | June 19, 2026 | Australia | Seattle Stadium | Seattle, WA | 3:00 PM |
| Match 3 | June 25, 2026 | Türkiye | Los Angeles Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 10:00 PM |
The United States plays all three group matches on the West Coast. This cuts travel time and time-zone changes during the group stage.
The opener against Paraguay also streams free on Tubi in 4K. That gives cord-cutters a no-cost option to watch the first match.
USA World Cup Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles
The USA World Cup opening ceremony takes place on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California. The show starts at 4:30 PM Pacific Time. That is 90 minutes before kickoff between the United States and Paraguay. Balich Wonder Studio produces the ceremony. The FIFA World Cup Trophy serves as the centerpiece of the live broadcast.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup USA opening ceremony is part of a three-city trilogy. This is a first in the tournament’s history. Each host nation stages its own ceremony. Mexico City goes first on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium. Toronto and Los Angeles follow on June 12. The Los Angeles event is the largest of the three productions.
Opening Ceremony Performers
FIFA confirmed a six-artist lineup for the Los Angeles ceremony. More performers may be added before the event.
| Artist | Origin | Genre |
|---|---|---|
| Katy Perry | United States | Pop |
| Future | United States | Hip-hop |
| Anitta | Brazil | Latin pop |
| LISA | Thailand (BLACKPINK) | K-pop |
| Rema | Nigeria | Afrobeats |
| Tyla | South Africa | Afropop |
Tyla also performs at the Mexico City ceremony on June 11. That creates a link between two events in the trilogy. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the lineup shows the cultural mix of the United States.
Opening Ceremony Schedule and Access
- Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
- Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- Ceremony start: 4:30 PM PT (7:30 PM ET)
- USA vs Paraguay kickoff: 6:00 PM PT (9:00 PM ET)
- Gates open: 2:30 PM PT (four hours before kickoff)
- Producer: Balich Wonder Studio
- Broadcast: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish), and Tubi (free in 4K)
Fans with a ticket for the USA vs Paraguay match get into the opening ceremony as part of the match-day experience. There is no separate ceremony ticket. FIFA and the Los Angeles Host Committee tell fans to arrive early. Stadium gates open four hours before kickoff to handle security and ceremony seating.
For fans without a match ticket, the FIFA Fan Festival Los Angeles runs at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from June 11 to 14. General admission tickets start at $10. Children 12 and under enter free with a paid adult.
Reserved Club Seats and Loge Boxes cost $30. The Coliseum site shows live broadcasts on giant screens. Fans can also enjoy music, food and cultural events through the opening weekend.
TV Broadcasters and Streaming for 2026 FIFA World Cup USA
Every 2026 FIFA World Cup match airs on television in the United States. Fans get both English and Spanish coverage.
English Coverage
FOX and FS1 hold the English-language rights for all 104 matches. FOX airs 70 matches on the main network. FS1 carries the other 34. A record 40 matches air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
All matches stream on the FOX Sports app and FOX One. FOX One costs $19.99 per month. Every match is available in 4K on FOX One and most major pay-TV providers.
From the Round of 16 onward, every match airs on FOX. That includes the third-place match and the World Cup Final on July 19.
Spanish Coverage
Telemundo Deportes and Universo provide Spanish-language coverage of the tournament. Both networks belong to NBCUniversal. Every match is also available with Spanish commentary on the Peacock streaming service.
Streaming Platforms
| Platform | Monthly Cost | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Tubi | Free | USA opener, Mexico opener and opening ceremonies in 4K |
| Peacock | $7.99 | Spanish coverage of all matches |
| Sling TV Blue | $46+ | FOX channels in select markets |
| FOX One | $19.99 | All 104 matches in 4K |
| YouTube TV | $82.99 | FOX and Telemundo (both languages) |
| fuboTV | $84.99 | Full coverage plus extra sports |
TikTok became FIFA’s first-ever Preferred Platform for the 2026 World Cup. Rights holders can livestream parts of all 104 matches through a dedicated TikTok hub powered by TikTok GamePlan. Prices on the streaming services above can change without notice.
Tournament Format and Complete 2026 FIFA World Cup USA Schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup USA tournament brings the biggest format change since 1998. The competition grows to 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group advance. The eight best third-place teams also advance.
That creates a new 32-team knockout round. The total match count rises from 64 to 104. The tournament lasts 39 days.
A new tiebreaker order applies for the first time. Head-to-head result is the first tiebreaker. Head-to-head goal difference comes next. Then head-to-head goals scored. Group-wide goal difference is used last.
The complete tournament schedule runs as follows:
- June 11: Opening match — Mexico vs South Africa at Mexico City Stadium
- June 12: USA vs Paraguay (Los Angeles) and Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Toronto)
- June 11 to 27: Group stage (72 matches)
- June 28 to July 3: Round of 32 (16 matches)
- July 4 to 7: Round of 16 (8 matches)
- July 9 to 11: Quarterfinals (4 matches)
- July 14 and 15: Semifinals (2 matches)
- July 18: Third-place match
- July 19: Final at New York New Jersey Stadium
Fan Zones and Public Viewing in USA Host Cities
All 11 United States host cities will run official FIFA Fan Festivals. These offer free or low-cost public viewing of every tournament match. Each location combines giant screens with food vendors, live music and soccer activities.
Major fan festival sites across the host network include:
- New York/New Jersey: Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Rockefeller Center
- Philadelphia: Lemon Hill Park with views of the Center City skyline
- Houston: East Downtown near Shell Energy Stadium
- Seattle: Seattle Center, plus regional fan zones in Spokane and Tacoma
- Kansas City: National WWI Museum and Memorial
- Dallas: Fair Park’s 277-acre complex
- Los Angeles: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and 10 regional fan zones
- San Francisco Bay Area: Sites in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose
Fan festival hours, prices and programs vary by city. Local host committees publish updated details through city tourism websites.
Tickets for 2026 FIFA World Cup USA Matches
FIFA manages all official ticket sales through a phased system that started in September 2025. As of mid-2026, the tournament is in the Last-Minute Sales phase. This phase runs on a first-come, first-served basis through the FIFA Ticketing Portal.
FIFA uses dynamic pricing on most categories. That means prices shift with demand. A limited Supporter Entry Tier of $60 per ticket is available for fans of qualified national teams. National federations control this tier. It is not sold to the general public. Each federation sets its own rules for how loyal fans can apply.
Check the current ticket prices on StubHub.
Hospitality packages sell separately through On Location, FIFA’s official hospitality partner. Tickets bought through unofficial resellers, like StubHub and SeatGeek, fall outside FIFA’s authorised distribution. FIFA can cancel tickets resold outside its official resale platform.
Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup USA Matters
The 2026 FIFA World Cup USA tournament is the largest edition in the competition’s 96-year history. The growth to 48 teams brings 104 matches over 39 days. This is the biggest format change to the men’s World Cup since the 1998 expansion to 32 teams.
The tournament also marks the first United States hosting of the men’s World Cup in 32 years. The 1994 edition led to the launch of Major League Soccer in 1996. City host committees expect billions of dollars in regional revenue across the 11 American venues.
Key Dates for 2026 FIFA World Cup USA Fans
- December 5, 2025: Final Draw at Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
- June 11, 2026: Tournament opens with Mexico vs South Africa
- June 12, 2026: USA World Cup opening ceremony in Los Angeles (4:30 PM PT)
- June 12, 2026: USA vs Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium (6:00 PM PT)
- June 19, 2026: USA vs Australia at Seattle Stadium
- June 25, 2026: USA vs Türkiye at Los Angeles Stadium
- July 4, 2026: Special ceremonies at Philadelphia and Houston
- July 14, 2026: Semifinal at Dallas Stadium
- July 15, 2026: Semifinal at Atlanta Stadium
- July 18, 2026: Third-place match at Miami Stadium
- July 19, 2026: Final at New York New Jersey Stadium
2026 FIFA World Cup USA FAQ
What is the stadium bag policy?
Fans can bring clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches. Small clutch bags up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches are also allowed. Regular backpacks and non-clear bags are banned.
How are tickets delivered?
FIFA delivers all tickets through the FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app on Android or iOS. There are no paper tickets and no email PDFs. Screenshots will not work at the gate.
Will Lionel Messi play at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina named Messi in the 55-player provisional squad on May 11, 2026. This will likely be his sixth World Cup. The final 26-man squad is due by June 1, 2026.
What items are banned inside the stadiums?
Banned items include weapons, fireworks, aerosols, umbrellas, large flags, professional cameras and outside alcohol. Sealed plastic water bottles up to 20 ounces are allowed at most venues.
How early should fans arrive on match day?
FIFA tells fans to arrive 90 to 120 minutes before kickoff. The USA opening match on June 12 opens gates four hours early to fit the opening ceremony.
What happens if a match gets postponed?
Fans keep their original tickets for the new date or venue. FIFA gives refunds only if a match is cancelled with no replacement.
Do international fans need a US visa?
Most international visitors need a US visa or ESTA approval. Citizens of 40 Visa Waiver Program countries can apply for ESTA online. A match ticket does not replace standard US entry requirements.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup USA brings 78 matches to 11 American host cities from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Team USA opens against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium right after the opening ceremony. FOX, FS1 and Telemundo carry every match in English and Spanish. The final airs from New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.
