FIFA World Cup 2026: Complete Guide to Dates, Stadiums and Tickets

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to break every record in the book. Forty-eight teams instead of 32. Three host countries. One hundred and four matches across 16 cities. If you're planning to attend, or even thinking about it, you need to know what you're getting into.

This is the biggest sports event the planet has ever seen, stretched across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. And if you're traveling between countries, across time zones, and through multiple networks, you'll need data that works everywhere without the headache of swapping SIMs at every border.

What Makes FIFA World Cup 2026 Different?

The 2026 FIFA world cup dates run from June 11 to July 19, 2026 – 39 days of football that will determine who lifts the trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The FIFA world cup 2026 start date kicks off with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 at 3pm ET.

This is the first World Cup with 48 teams. Previously, 32 teams competed. Now, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all qualified for their first World Cup. Curaçao made history as the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament.

The format changed too. Instead of eight groups of four teams, we now have 12 groups of four. The top two from each group advance, plus the eight best third-place teams. That means 32 teams move to the knockout rounds – a new Round of 32 that didn't exist before.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Countries: USA, Canada, Mexico

The usa canada mexico world cup divides hosting duties across three nations, but not equally. The United States handles the bulk – 60 matches, including the semifinal and final. Mexico gets 13 matches. Canada takes 10. Mexico becomes the first country to host or co-host three World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026). The US hosted in 1994. Canada hosts for the first time ever.

• United States (11 cities): Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium); Boston (Gillette Stadium); Dallas (AT&T Stadium); Houston (NRG Stadium); Kansas City (GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium); Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium); Miami (Hard Rock Stadium); New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium); Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field); San Francisco Bay Area (Levi's Stadium); Seattle (Lumen Field)
• Mexico (3 cities): Guadalajara (Estadio Akron); Mexico City (Estadio Azteca); Monterrey (Estadio BBVA)
• Canada (2 cities): Toronto (BMO Field); Vancouver (BC Place)

Each host nation's team plays all three group stage matches on home soil. Mexico opens the tournament. Canada plays on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto. The United States kicks off the same day at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadiums: Where the Action Happens?

The FIFA world cup 2026 stadiums range from intimate 40,000-seat venues to massive 82,000-seat arenas. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey hosts the FIFA world cup 2026 final stadium on July 19, 2026, capacity 82,500.

• MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) – Final on July 19, plus one semifinal. The biggest stage for the biggest match.
• AT&T Stadium (Dallas) – Nine matches total, including one semifinal. Retractable roof and climate control mean perfect conditions regardless of Texas heat.
• SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) – The newest stadium in the tournament. Hosted the Super Bowl in 2022. Will host eight World Cup matches including USA's opening game.
• Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) – Historic venue where Maradona's "Hand of God" happened in 1986. Opens the 2026 tournament at 7,200 feet elevation–altitude will matter.
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – Retractable roof, modern facilities, eight matches including one quarterfinal.
• Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) – Another quarterfinal venue. Expect intense atmosphere in South Florida's soccer hotbed.
• BC Place (Vancouver) – Canada's largest venue with a retractable roof. Hosts six matches.

Most stadiums have retractable roofs or climate control, FIFA learned from Qatar 2022 and wants comfortable conditions. Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, and others can close up if needed.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Every Match, Every Stage

The FIFA world cup 2026 schedule breaks down into clear phases.

The 2026 FIFA world cup final date is set. Mark July 19 on your calendar now.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups: The Draw Results

The FIFA world cup 2026 groups were drawn on December 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. See what we know about the current setup:

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Playoff D Winner (Denmark/Czech Republic/Ireland/North Macedonia)
• Group B: Switzerland, Canada, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A Winner (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia & Herzegovina)
• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
• Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C Winner
• Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Curaçao, Ivory Coast
• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B Winner
• Group G: Belgium, Iran, New Zealand, Egypt
• Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde, UEFA Playoff D Winner
• Group I: Norway, Senegal, Intercontinental Playoff 2 Winner
• Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Intercontinental Playoff 1 Winner
• Group K: Colombia, Uzbekistan, Uruguay, Intercontinental Playoff Winner
• Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Six spots remain open until March 2026 when the UEFA playoffs and intercontinental playoffs conclude. The intercontinental playoffs include Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname competing for two World Cup berths.

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification: How Teams Got Here?

The 2026 FIFA world cup qualification process allocated spots by confederation:

UEFA (Europe): 16 spots

• 12 automatic qualifiers
• 4 through playoffs (March 2026)

CAF (Africa): 9 direct spots + 1 playoff spot

• All nine group winners qualified automatically
• Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and others secured spots

CONMEBOL (South America): 6 direct spots + 1 playoff spot

• Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador qualified
• Bolivia in intercontinental playoff

AFC (Asia): 8 direct spots + 1 playoff spot

• Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar qualified
• Iraq in intercontinental playoff

CONCACAF (North/Central America): 6 automatic (3 hosts + 3 qualifiers)

• USA, Canada, Mexico (hosts)
• Panama, Haiti, Curaçao qualified
• Jamaica, Suriname in intercontinental playoff

OFC (Oceania): 1 direct spot + 1 playoff spot

• New Zealand qualified
• New Caledonia in intercontinental playoff

The FIFA world cup 2026 qualifiers table shows 42 teams already in. Six more will be decided in March 2026. The world cup 2026 qualification standings are nearly complete.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: Prices, Categories, and How to Buy?

Ticket pricing caused controversy. FIFA initially set prices that ranged from $120 for group stage matches to over $6,000 for the final. After backlash from fan groups, FIFA introduced a "Supporter Entry Tier" with $60 tickets for every match, but these only go to national federations, who distribute them to loyal supporters. Only 10% of each federation's allocation gets this price.

The FIFA world cup tickets 2026 price varies by match importance, seat location, and city. Dynamic pricing means prices fluctuate based on demand, like airline tickets.

How to Buy FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets:

• Official FIFA Portal: Visit FIFA.com/tickets
• Sales Phases: Multiple phases between now and June 2026
• Random Selection Draw: Opened December 11, 2025
• First-Come, First-Served: Later phases work this way
• Last-Minute Sales: Days before matches

FIFA Hospitality Packages include match tickets plus premium experiences: lounges, food, drinks, parking. These cost significantly more but guarantee seats.

Ticket Categories Explained:

• Category 1: Lower tier, center sections, best views, highest prices
• Category 2: Mix of upper and lower tiers outside Category 1
• Category 3: Upper tier, decent angles
• Category 4: Upper tier corners and ends, most affordable (limited availability)

‼️Warning: Unofficial resale sites show tickets at 3-5x face value. FIFA runs an official resale platform with a 15% fee to both buyer and seller. If buying on the secondary market, use platforms with buyer protection like LiveFootballTickets with their 150% refund guarantee.

Following England's team from group stage to final? Budget at least $5,000-$7,000 for tickets alone at face value. Add travel, hotels, food, and you're looking at $15,000+ per person for the full experience.

Planning Your Trip: Visas and Travel

You're potentially crossing three countries, covering thousands of miles, dealing with different currencies, and navigating 16 cities.

• United States: Most European, Australian, Asian, and South American passport holders can use ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Apply online before travel. Some nationalities need full B-2 tourist visas–apply months in advance.
• Canada: Many nationalities can use eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Similar to ESTA, it's simpler than a full visa. Some countries need visitor visas.
• Mexico: Many nationalities enter visa-free for tourism up to 180 days. Check specific requirements for your passport.

If you're following your team across all three countries, plan documentation carefully. ESTA and eTA applications cost around $20-25 each and last for years.

Getting Between Cities

Distances are massive. Seattle to Miami is 3,300 miles. Vancouver to Mexico City is 2,700 miles. You're not driving between matches.

• Flights: Major hubs include Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City. Book domestic flights early–prices will spike as the tournament approaches.
• Buses: Greyhound and FlixBus run between US cities. Slower but cheaper than flying. Not practical for cross-country trips on tight timelines.
• Trains: Amtrak covers some routes but is slow and limited compared to Europe or Asia. Only viable for regional travel like Boston-New York-Philadelphia.
• Rental Cars: Makes sense if staying in one region (e.g., watching three matches in Texas–Dallas, Houston, and a Mexico border crossing to Monterrey).

Accommodation

Hotel prices will be insane near stadiums. Some observations from past tournaments:

• Book now. Not kidding. If you wait until March 2026, you'll pay triple.
• Consider staying 30-60 minutes from stadiums and using public transit or Uber.
• Airbnb and VRBO offer more space for groups, split costs with friends.

Some cities (Miami, Los Angeles, New York) are always expensive. Others (Kansas City, Philadelphia, Dallas) offer better value. For a 10-day trip following your team through three matches in different cities, budget $2,000-$5,000 for hotels.

Practical Tips for FIFA 2026 Travel

Ticket sales are ongoing but move fast. Book hotels immediately after securing tickets.

• Group Stages are Affordable: Want to experience the World Cup without bankrupting yourself? Group stage tickets in less popular cities (Kansas City, Philadelphia, Seattle) run $120-250. Pick a match between two teams you're neutral about. Still World Cup atmosphere, fraction of the cost.
• Follow One Host Region: If budget is tight, stay regional. Pick all your matches in Texas (Dallas, Houston, or cross to Monterrey). Or stick to the East Coast (New York, Philadelphia, Boston). Cuts down on flights.
• Use Public Transit Where Possible: Many stadiums have good public transit connections, especially MetLife Stadium (train from NYC), SoFi Stadium (LA Metro), AT&T Stadium (Dallas buses). Avoid parking nightmares and $50-100 parking fees.
• Avoid Peak Travel Days: Flights on match days cost more. Fly in 2 days early, fly out 1 day late. You'll save money and avoid stress.

The Countdown is On

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest sports event in history. Forty-eight teams. Three countries. One hundred and four matches. Sixteen cities.

Tickets are selling. Hotels are booking up. Flights will only get more expensive. If you're serious about attending, the time to plan is now.

When is the FIFA world cup 2026? June 11 to July 19, 2026. Where is it? Everywhere across North America. Go watch history happen on the pitch. See you at the World Cup!

Disclaimer: Yesim is in no way associated with FIFA, the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup, or Canada/Mexico/USA 2026. The term World Cup is used only for the purpose of properly describing certain events and without the specific permission of FIFA. FIFA’s official ticket site is www.fifa.com/en/tickets.