FIFA World Cup 2026 — your travel-first guide
The biggest World Cup ever: 48 nations, 16 cities, three countries. Here's everything a traveling fan needs — from stadium maps to fan-zone tips, with hotels and flights in a click.
Latest results & next kick-offs
All matches →Latest results
- No matches played yet — group draw December 2025.
Upcoming
- Schedule unveiled after the draw.
A continent-spanning World Cup, designed for travelers
The FIFA World Cup 2026 rewrites the format. Three host nations, 16 cities, 48 teams and 104 matches — the most ambitious football tournament ever staged. From the iconic Estadio Azteca opener in Mexico City to the Final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, fans will cross time zones, climates and cultures over 39 days.
This hub is built for the traveler-first fan: skip the corporate brochures and find the practical answers — which cities pair well, when to book flights, where the best fan zones are, and which stadium has the easiest match-day transit. We update fixture data as FIFA confirms it, and we surface the partners we genuinely use to plan trips.
For the first time, the tournament becomes the road trip. Pick a country, pick a corridor, and let the matches design your itinerary.
- 48teams
- 16host cities
- 104matches
- 3Host
- 0Host countries
- 0Host cities
- 0Teams
- 0Matches
- 0Expected fans
Travel essentials
Curated partners we actually use to plan World Cup trips — tickets, stays, gear.
Match-day tickets
Official-supplier tickets and stadium tours across the 16 host cities.
Browse tickets →Hotels near stadiums
Free cancellation, transit-walkable inventory across USA · Canada · Mexico.
Compare stays →Supporter gear
Jerseys, scarves, packing essentials hand-picked for the travelling fan.
Shop gear →Where to base your 2026 World Cup trip
Six cities to start with — six of the highest-volume hubs by matches, transit and atmosphere. See the full 16-city guide for deep dives, transport and weather.
See all host cities →
New York / New Jersey
MetLife Stadium · 82,500 seats
Hosts the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final on July 19, 2026 — the marquee venue of the tournament.
Los Angeles
SoFi Stadium · 70,240 seats
Futuristic LED-wrapped SoFi will deliver the most cinematic broadcasts of the tournament.
Dallas
AT&T Stadium · 80,000 seats
Most matches in the U.S. — a likely staging post for the Final-bound favourites.
Mexico City
Estadio Azteca · 87,523 seats
The only stadium to host THREE World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026) — and the 2026 opener.
Toronto
BMO Field · 45,000 seats
Most multicultural city on Earth — every match feels like a home tie for someone.
Miami
Hard Rock Stadium · 64,767 seats
Latin American gateway — expect electric atmospheres for any Conmebol fixture.
All 16 stadiums on a map
From a 87,500-seat Azteca to BMO Field's intimate Toronto bowl — geography matters when you're planning a multi-city trip.
- 16venues
- 1081K+total seats
- 87,523largest (Azteca)
Understand the new 48-team format
The expanded field is split into 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance into a 32-team round of 32 — adding a brand-new knockout round. A team can now play up to eight matches on the road to the trophy.
Translation for travelers: the tournament's first ten days will be packed with group-stage matches across all three countries. Knockouts begin June 28, the semi-finals are in Dallas and Atlanta, and the Final is on July 19 at MetLife.
Want a deeper breakdown by confederation? See our teams guide for all 48 qualifiers — including who is in, who is likely, and the inter-confederation play-off picture.
Groups snapshot
Full view →The atmosphere — fan zones, food, etiquette
Beyond the 90 minutes: the public viewings, neighbourhood watch parties and street food that turn a match-day into a 12-hour experience.
Read the atmosphere guide →Live scores & today's fixtures
Frequently asked questions
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start and end?
The tournament runs from June 11, 2026 (opener at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City) to the Final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey.
Which countries host the World Cup 2026?
Three countries co-host for the first time: the United States (11 cities, 78 matches), Canada (Toronto and Vancouver, 13 matches) and Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, 13 matches).
How many teams play in the 2026 World Cup?
A record 48 national teams, expanded from 32. They are split into 12 groups of 4. The top two and the eight best third-placed teams advance to a 32-team knockout round.
When can I buy tickets?
Official FIFA ticketing opens in phases from late 2025 through early 2026 via the official FIFA portal. Always verify URLs end in fifa.com to avoid scams.
What is the best base city for multiple matches?
New York/New Jersey, Dallas and Los Angeles host the most fixtures and have excellent international connectivity. For a Canada/USA hybrid trip, Toronto pairs well with Boston, Philadelphia or NY/NJ.
Start planning your World Cup 2026 trip today
48 teams, 16 cities, 104 matches, one summer. Lock in tickets and stays before prices climb.