The World Cup is returning to North America after 32 years. However, we still do not know the list of host cities. That is due to change on June 16, when FIFA in New York will announce the final list of arenas where the world's best soccer players will compete.

Following this year's tournament in Qatar, the next World Cup will be the first to feature 48 national teams. As such, more stadiums are needed than in previous competitions of this importance. The 2026 World Cup will also be the first one in history with 3 co-hosts. According to the plans, 60 matches will be played in the United States, including all from the quarterfinals onwards, and 10 games each in the other host countries Mexico and Canada.

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This year the World Cup was moved to the end of the year and not held in the months of June/July as usual. For that reason, we still don't know all the teams that are participating yet. However, the main favorite to win this year's World Cup is Brazil, followed by France and England.

Team USA is further down the standings, and their chances are not as good. They barely made it 3rd in the CONCACAF matching points with Costa Rica who now has to go head to head with New Zealand for a ticket to the World Cup.

Since online sports betting was legalized in New York on January 8, 2022, it has become a booming state for the gambling industry. And organizations like Betmgm new york allows soccer fans to bet on their team.

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The United States expects matches to be played at 10 or 11 venues, while Mexico and Canada will each get three venues. Potential sites in Mexico are Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Zapopan and Estadio BBVA in Guadeloupe. BMO Field in Toronto, Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton and B.C. Place in Vancouver.

The list of potential stadiums in the United States opens with the largest arena in the NFL, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with a capacity of 82,556 spectators. Although the venue is located within the state of New Jersey it is only 5 miles from the Big Apple. Two teams from New York, Jets and Giants, play their home games there on a regular basis.

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Other potential arenas include: AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, NRG Stadium in Houston, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara and Lumen Field in Seattle.

In the past, FIFA has remarked that it will consider issues such as overall infrastructure, financial impact and sustainability when deciding on host cities in addition to the sports venues themselves. Chicago, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Charlotte are among the cities that were eliminated or withdrew from the bid.

As mentioned earlier, the 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 countries, with a total of 80 matches. It will be the second time the United States has hosted the tournament, having done so in 1994. Mexico has hosted the world's best teams twice, in 1970 and 1986, and Canada will have that privilege for the first time.

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