Jersey Rules: FIFA Schedule For '26 Men’s World Cup Puts Final In MetLife Stadium
Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 08:06PM By Barry Janoff
February 4, 2024: Calling it the “most inclusive and impactful FIFA World Cup ever,” FIFA today unveiled the match schedule for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, to be staged in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The opening match featuring the Mexican national team is scheduled to be played in Estadio Azteca Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
The final is scheduled to be played in MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ — home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets — on Sunday, July 19.
Toronto’s BMO Field and Los Angeles SoFi Stadium will also host their respective national teams’ FIFA World Cup opening matches, both scheduled for Friday, June 12.
“The most inclusive and impactful FIFA World Cup ever is no longer a dream but a reality that will take shape in the form of 104 matches in 16 state-of-the-art stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the USA,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said during the official match schedule unveiling.
“From the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca to the spectacular final in New York-New Jersey players and fans have been at the core of our extensive planning for this game-changing tournament.”
Match pairings and kick-off times will be confirmed following the Final Draw for FIFA World Cup 26, which is expected to take place toward the end of 2025.
FIFA said it "has ensured that teams will have three full days of rest between matches." Of 104 total matches, the only exception to this guideline will be the third-place game at the end of the tournament.
FIFA is referring to the respective stadiums by their region as they do not have deals with the naming rights companies, so MetLife Stadium is New York-New Jersey Stadium, SoFi Stadium is Los Angeles Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium is Miami Stadium.
Overall, 16 cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico will host a total of 48 teams and 80 matches under an expanded format, the largest Men’s World Cup in FIFA history.
The tournament previously featured 32 teams that competed in the last seven competitions dating back to 1998 when the number of participants was increased from 24.
AT&T Stadium, home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, will host a tournament-high nine matches.
There will be eight each in MetLife, SoFi and Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz; seven apiece in Miami’s Hard Rock, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and NRG Stadium in Houston; and six apiece in Seattle’s Lumen Field, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO., and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
“It’s great to finally learn where we will be for the group stage. It really starts to bring things to life,” U.S. Men’s National team head coach Gregg Berhalter said via the U.S. Soccer Federation. “We would have been happy with any of the venues because we know the home support is going to be incredible.
"It's not only about the cities hosting the World Cup, it's about all the communities across America really getting behind us and creating this wave of support that really pushes the team to try to go and reach new heights.”
According to FIFA, the tournament’s match schedule will “minimize travel for teams and fans alike, while the number of rest days between fixtures will be maximized.
“Having been drawn up in consultation with key stakeholders, including national-team coaches and technical directors, the schedule will also increase the prospect of matches being played in the best possible conditions and ensure that fans have shorter travel times when following their teams.”
Fox Sports 1 and Telemundo are the English and Spanish rights holders, respectively, for the tournament when it is broadcast in the U.S.
Being a 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup host city could “generate more than $5 billion in short-term economic activity, including supporting approximately 40,000 jobs and more than $1 billion in incremental worker earnings across North America,” according to a study done by The Boston Consulting Groups in conjunction with the U.S. Soccer Federation.
According to the FIFA World Cup 26 NYNJ Host Committee, complemented by fan experiences throughout the NY-NJ region. matches played in MetLife Stadium, including the final, are projected to generate more than $2 billion in economic impact for the NY-NJ region, and to support 14,000-plus jobs.
It is expected that the tournament will bring more than 1 million visitors to the region, roughly half of whom will be non-ticketholders.
“As an advocate for this region, and a lifelong soccer fan, I am thrilled that FIFA chose to place their trust in New York New Jersey to host the historic FIFA World Cup 26 Final,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said via the U.S. Soccer Federation.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our entire region; hosting the Final provides NYNJ an unparalleled platform to brilliantly showcase what we stand for — diversity, equality, access, and inclusion.”
FIFA global marketing partners and official sponsors include Adidas, Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser), Coca-Cola, Hyundai-Kia, McDonald’s Qatar Airways, Visa and Wanda Group.
The 2026 World Cup was awarded to North America on June 13, 2018.
This past May, the 16 Host Cities each unveiled their individual brands developed by FIFA for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup. Each city will have activation and marketing under its individual tag, such as “We Are Dallas 26” and “We Are Atlanta 26.”
According to Infantino, “These unique city identities embody the fun and fantastic people and places that will offer fans an experience like no other in 2026.”
2026 World Cup key dates and venues:
• June 11: World Cup opening game and Mexico's first game, Mexico City
• June 12: Canada's first game, Toronto
• June 12: USMNT's first game, Los Angeles
• June 28-July 3: round of 32 matches in all host cities except Dallas, Guadalajara, Los Angeles and Philadelphia
• July 4-July 7: Round of 16 hosted in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Mexico City, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and Vancouver
• July 9-11: Quarterfinals hosted in Boston, Kansas City, Los Angeles and Miami
• July 14: Semifinal one, Dallas
• July 15: Semifinal two, Atlanta
• July 18: Third place play-off, Miami
• July 19: Final, New York/New Jersey
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