World Cup 2026 Schedule by Venue

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is spread across 16 stadiums in three countries, making it the most geographically expansive World Cup in history. Understanding which matches are played at which venue is essential for fans planning to attend in person, especially those hoping to catch multiple games across different cities. This guide breaks down the schedule by venue so you can plan your World Cup experience.

Venue Distribution Overview

The 104 matches are distributed unevenly across the three host nations, with the United States hosting the vast majority:

This distribution reflects the US’s role as the primary host. All matches from the quarterfinals through the Final are exclusively at American stadiums, concentrating the most prestigious games on US soil.

US Venues (11 Stadiums)

MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, NJ (New York Metro)

• Capacity: ~82,500
• Matches: 8 (including the Final on July 19)
• Stages: Group, knockout rounds, Final
• The crown jewel of the tournament. Hosts the most high-profile matches.

SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA (Los Angeles)

• Capacity: ~70,000 (expandable to 100,000)
• Matches: 8 (including a semifinal)
• Stages: Group, knockout rounds through semifinals
• One of the newest and most technologically advanced stadiums in the world.

AT&T Stadium — Arlington, TX (Dallas)

• Capacity: ~80,000 (expandable to 100,000)
• Matches: 8 (including a semifinal)
• Stages: Group, knockout rounds through semifinals
• The retractable-roof stadium offers climate-controlled comfort in the Texas summer heat.

Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, FL (Miami)

• Capacity: ~65,000
• Matches: 7 (including a quarterfinal)
• Stages: Group, knockout rounds
• South Florida’s tropical atmosphere will create a festive matchday experience.

NRG Stadium — Houston, TX

• Capacity: ~72,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• Retractable roof protects against Houston’s summer heat and humidity.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, GA

• Capacity: ~71,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• The striking retractable-roof design creates one of the most impressive interiors in US sports.

Lumen Field — Seattle, WA

• Capacity: ~69,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• Known for its intense atmosphere; Seattle’s passionate soccer culture will be on full display.

Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara, CA (San Francisco Bay Area)

• Capacity: ~68,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• Located in the heart of Silicon Valley with easy access from San Francisco.

Gillette Stadium — Foxborough, MA (Boston)

• Capacity: ~65,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• Home of the New England Revolution; a strong soccer market in the Northeast.

Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, PA

• Capacity: ~69,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• Philadelphia’s passionate sports culture will bring energy to every match.

Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, MO

• Capacity: ~76,000
• Matches: 6
• Stages: Group, early knockout rounds
• One of the loudest stadiums in the US; the atmosphere will be electric.

Mexico Venues (3 Stadiums)

Estadio Azteca — Mexico City

• Capacity: ~87,000
• Matches: 5 (including the Opening Match on June 11)
• Stages: Group stage
• The most iconic football stadium in the Americas. Hosts Mexico vs South Africa to open the tournament.

Estadio Akron — Guadalajara

• Capacity: ~48,000
• Matches: 4
• Stages: Group stage
• Modern stadium in Mexico’s second-largest city. Home of Club Guadalajara (Chivas).

Estadio BBVA — Monterrey

• Capacity: ~53,000
• Matches: 4
• Stages: Group stage
• Stunning mountain backdrop makes it one of the most scenic venues in the tournament.

Canada Venues (2 Stadiums)

BMO Field — Toronto

• Capacity: ~45,000 (expanded for World Cup)
• Matches: 6–7
• Stages: Group, possibly early knockout
• Located on the Toronto waterfront. Canada’s largest city brings a diverse, multicultural fanbase.

BC Place — Vancouver

• Capacity: ~54,000
• Matches: 6–7
• Stages: Group, possibly early knockout
• Retractable-roof stadium in one of Canada’s most beautiful cities. Pacific time zone kickoffs.

Matches by Stage and Venue

Here is how the tournament stages map to venues:

Group Stage (96 matches): All 16 venues host group stage matches. This ensures that every host city gets to experience the excitement of the opening round. Mexico and Canada venues handle their full allocation during this phase.

Round of 32 (16 matches): Primarily US venues, with some matches potentially at Toronto and Vancouver. The shift toward US-only hosting begins here.

Round of 16 (8 matches): Exclusively US venues. The remaining 11 American stadiums share these prestigious knockout matches.

Quarterfinals (4 matches): Expected at MetLife, SoFi, AT&T Stadium, and Hard Rock Stadium — the four largest and most prominent US venues.

Semifinals (2 matches): SoFi Stadium (LA) and AT&T Stadium (Dallas) are the expected hosts, though MetLife could also be in the mix.

Final: MetLife Stadium, July 19. No other option — this has been confirmed since the bid was awarded.

Planning Multi-Venue Trips

For fans hoping to attend matches at multiple venues, here are key travel considerations:

Northeast corridor (NY – Philadelphia – Boston): These three venues are connected by Amtrak’s Northeast Regional and Acela trains. New York to Philadelphia is about 90 minutes; New York to Boston is about 4 hours. This is the most feasible multi-city circuit for fans without a car.

Texas duo (Dallas – Houston): A 3.5-hour drive or 1-hour flight between AT&T Stadium and NRG Stadium. If the schedule cooperates, fans could catch matches at both venues on consecutive days.

California duo (LA – San Francisco): SoFi Stadium and Levi’s Stadium are connected by a 1-hour flight or 5-hour drive. Both cities offer world-class tourism beyond the matches.

Cross-border trips: Traveling between US and Mexican venues requires a passport and potentially a visa depending on your nationality. Mexico City to Dallas or Houston is a 2.5-hour flight. Toronto to New York or Philadelphia is a 1.5-hour flight or 8-hour drive.

Rest day travel: The tournament has built-in rest days between knockout rounds specifically to allow teams and fans to travel. Check our rest days calendar to identify the best windows for moving between cities.

Specific match-to-venue assignments for the knockout rounds depend on the group stage results and bracket placement. This page will be updated as FIFA confirms individual match venues.