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FIFA World Cup 2026: Future World Cup Locations and More

Will Brown by Will Brown, March 30, 2025

US Soccer Stadium

As preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup gear up, the future World Cup locations are seeing considerable investments in their infrastructure. The tournament will mark the first time that three nations host the event, with games to be split between Canada, the USA, and Mexico. In this guide, we’ve provided background details on how the locations were chosen, the confirmed cities and venues, the projected impact of the tournament, and much more.

All You Need to Know About the Next FIFA World Cup

Because this will be the first FIFA World Cup hosted in North America in more than 30 years, we’ve kicked off this article with an overview of what to expect from the tournament. From there, we’ve explored the bidding process for the nations and the confirmed host cities and venues.

The second half of the guide covers the teams that have qualified, any changes to the format, and the projected cultural and economic impact of the event. In the last section, we’ve revealed the next World Cup location for the 2030 tournament.

Details for the Upcoming World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first time that the tournament will be hosted by three nations simultaneously. Between June 11 and July 19, 2026, games will be held across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This will be the first time that 48 teams compete, a huge increase from the 32-team format of the past.

A majority of the games will be hosted in the United States, including all matches from the quarterfinals to the finals. Canada and Mexico are set to host 10 matches each between the group stages and early knockout rounds. Additionally, the schedule will be increased to host 80 matches instead of the previous 64.

The upcoming World Cup will undoubtedly be a landmark moment in the prestigious tournament as it will bring nations together across multiple borders. It will also inspire international collaboration while the relationship between the three nations is at its most fraught, hopefully proving how soccer is a tool to bring nations together.

How the Next World Cup Location Was Decided

The selection process for the future World Cup locations was particularly transparent after the controversies surrounding the processes for the 2018 and 2022 events. The tournament’s governing body, FIFA, introduced a more objective evaluation system that required nation buffers to meet strict criteria regarding infrastructure, finances, human rights protections, and environmental sustainability.

The joint proposal between the USA, Canada, and Mexico was represented by the United Bid Committee, which submitted its proposal in 2017. The committee’s primary competitor was Morocco. As a part of its selection process, FIFA inspected potential host cities and venues, gauging the quality of stadiums, transportation, accommodation, and economic potential.

The bid overwhelmingly passed 134 votes against Morocco’s 65, and the decision was announced in Moscow in 2018. After the bid passed, FIFA then had to select which of the 23 host city candidates would host games. The selection of 16 host cities was announced in 2022.

The Confirmed Host Cities and Venues

In addition to the infrastructure of each host city, the selection committee investigated the geographical location of potential cities regarding climate and the burden of travel for players. Ultimately, the United States had the most cities chosen, with 11 different cities hosting games at the next FIFA World Cup.

These US cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. The games will be played at some of the most sophisticated facilities in the country, including the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Mexico will host matches in three major cities, including the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, and the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. This will make Estadio Azteca the first stadium to host World Cup opening matches in three different tournaments, with the previous being in 1970 and 1986.

Canada’s games will be held at Toronto’s BMO Field and Vancouver’s BC Place. To meet the requirements of the tournament, an estimated $7 billion in upgrades will be undertaken in both cities. This will improve the stadiums, transportation systems, and accommodation.

Which Teams Have Qualified?

While the qualification process for the 48-team tournament is still ongoing, the three host nations have automatically secured places. The remaining 45 teams will represent FIFA’s efforts to increase opportunities for global representation, with updated limits on certain regions ensuring smaller nations have a better chance to play.

There are 16 slots for European nations, six slots for South American nations, nine slots for African nations, eight slots for Asian nations, six slots for Central, Caribbean, and North American nations, and one slot for Oceania. There are several nations that have almost guaranteed slots, leaving many more in question.

This includes Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Hungary, Romania, and Japan. Due to the expanded format, around 48 nations will be competing in the qualifiers for the first time such as Azerbaijan and Vietnam.

The Tournament Format Changes

The expansion of the tournament to 48 teams has resulted in one of the largest format changes in the event’s history. The group stages will now feature sixteen groups of three teams each rather than eight groups of four. The top two finishers in the group stages will then move to a new knockout round of 32.

This additional round will create more participation opportunities for nations, particularly those that have not been represented in previous tournaments. It will also undoubtedly generate more revenue for each next World Cup location as well as FIFA. To address concerns about potential collusion eliminated simultaneous final group matches and extra time in the group stages.

We have little doubt that the next FIFA World Cup to be among the best sporting events to attend in 2026. The expanded format allows a new generation in the US to witness the spectacle of the tournament, as well as provide overlooked nations with an unprecedented opportunity to perform on the world stage.

The Economic and Cultural Impact of the Event

The next World Cup soccer tournament is expected to generate an immense economic and cultural impact across its locations. It is estimated that the event will generate more than $14 billion in revenues, with nearly $6 billion generated for the US alone. This will be aided by up to 600,000 international visitors traveling for the tournament.

Up to six million tickets are expected to be sold, a huge increase over the three million sold during the 2022 World Cup. The boom of domestic and international tourists will give a massive boost to the hospitality and accommodation industries, as well as the retail sectors.

As for the cultural impact, the event may prove to be a shot of adrenaline for the future World Cup locations’ domestic leagues. The MLS, Liga MX, the Canadian Premier League, and women’s soccer are expected a massive increase in viewership and attendance as a result, while youth participation is also predicted to rise across the region.

Of course, US sportsbooks with soccer markets will undoubtedly post record revenues for betting on the sport due to increased local interest, with most host cities now offering legal betting. The investments in transportation, sustainability initiatives, sporting infrastructure, and renewable energy will also have benefits for the cities long after the tournament has concluded.

Who Will Host the Following World Cup?

As is customary, the locations for the following two FIFA World Cups have also been decided well in advance. Continuing the precedent set by the 2026 tournament, the 2030 FIFA World Cup will be hosted between Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This will mark the first intercontinental tournament in the event’s history.

There will also be three games hosted in Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina to commemorate a century of the teams’ participation in the World Cup. The 2034 World Cup location of Saudi Arabia was also confirmed in December 2024. This will mark the third World Cup to be held in Asia.

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