The 2026 World Cup will take place across 11 host cities in the United States, spread over vast distances and very different regions of the country. From coastal metropolises to inland cities, each host offers its own climate, urban character, local culture, and matchday setting — making the tournament as diverse geographically as it is sporting.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak | Ultramodern Dallas Stadium was considered to host the final, although it will ultimately be held in New York

2026 World Cup – in Mexico for the 3rd time

Mexico gained great experience in hosting World Cups by doing it in 1970 and 1986. The team reached the quarter-finals both times, achieving their most successful participation ever. Does this give hope for the upcoming tournament?

One thing is certain - the 2026 World Cup in Mexico guarantees an inimitable atmosphere. The matches played at Estadio Monterrey, Mexico City Stadium, and Estadio Guadalajara will be full of Southern joy, loud fans, and genuine love for football. Mexican host cities of the 2026 World Cup are no less entertaining:

• Monterrey. Experience breathtaking mountains, contemporary cityscapes, captivating street art, and delectable northern Mexican flavors. The city will witness 2026 World Cup matches at the impressive Estadio Monterrey venue.
• Mexico City. One of the biggest cities in the world. A vibrant metropolis that blends ancient history with modern flair, offering endless opportunities for exploration. The World Cup 2026 matches in Mexico City are set to take place at the iconic Mexico City Stadium.
• Guadalajara (Zapopan). Experience the traditional charm of Guadalajara, with its colorful colonial buildings, ornate churches, world-renowned tequila distilleries, and mariachi music. The stage for the games is set at Estadio Guadalajara.

The 2026 World Cup matches in Mexico will be played in cities located in very different regions of the country — from high-altitude Mexico City to northern Monterrey and western Guadalajara — each shaped by different geography, pace of life, and football traditions.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak | Estadio Monterrey impresses not only with its architecture, but also with the breathtaking surrounding landscape

2026 World Cup in Canada – why so special?

Canada has done it! The country will be hosting the 2026 World Cup. It is a huge success for the national team, still taking its first steps into serious international competition. On the other hand, organizing such a big tournament is a major challenge. Fortunately, Canada has experience in hosting sports events.

Also, there are several impressive stadiums such as BC Place Vancouver squeezed between the skyscrapers of Vancouver, and Toronto Stadium standing by the very shore of Lake Ontario. Both venues will be hosting matches during the 2026 World Cup, providing safe and high-quality infrastructure. Besides, the country is an attractive tourist destination, which will certainly add to the atmosphere of the tournament. The 2026 World Cup in Canada will come to:

• Vancouver. Discover the cultural and natural richness of the area. From the colorful streets of the hipster haven of Main Street to the snow-capped mountains. In Vancouver, BC Place Vancouver stadium will serve as the battleground for the matches.
• Toronto. It’s a city that has it all, with world-class museums, towering skyscrapers, beautiful parks, and a food scene that reflects its diverse cultural influences. The teams will face off at Toronto Stadium stadium in the heart of the city.

The 2026 World Cup matches in Canada will take place in host cities located thousands of kilometres apart, highlighting the country’s vast scale and the contrast between its western and eastern regions, both shaped by different climates and sporting traditions.

World Cup 2026 tournament format and structure

New, expanded tournament format

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will introduce a new tournament format, expanding the competition to 48 national teams for the first time in history. The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with each group playing a round-robin stage consisting of three matches per team.

The top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the knockout phase, joined by the eight best third-placed teams. As a result, a total of 32 teams will qualify for the second stage of the tournament, creating a full round of 32 — a format previously not used at the World Cup.

The knockout stage will begin with the round of 32, followed by the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place match and the final. From this stage onward, all matches will be played as single-elimination fixtures, with extra time and penalty shoot-outs used if required to determine a winner.

It is worth noting that the original 2026 World Cup format was slightly different. Initially, FIFA planned to divide the 48 teams into 16 groups of three, with only two teams advancing from each group. However, concerns regarding sporting integrity, uneven rest periods and the increased risk of collusion in final group matches led the FIFA Council to revise the structure.

As stated on FIFA’s official website, the updated format “mitigates the risk of collusion and ensures that all teams play a minimum of three matches while providing balanced rest time between competing teams”. The revised system also allows for a more traditional tournament rhythm, closer to previous World Cup editions.

In total, the 2026 World Cup will consist of 104 matches, compared to 64 in the previous format used between 1998 and 2022. This significant increase affects scheduling, stadium usage and travel logistics, making tournament planning more complex than at any previous World Cup.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak | Estadio Guadalajara, notable for its volcano-like design, will be the only venue not to host any knockout-stage matches

A new system for the World Cup 2026 qualifications – how does it work?

Implemented changes also force innovations in the World Cup 2026 qualifications. The number of spots available to teams from each confederation has been increased. Furthermore, the OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) has been given 1 guaranteed place in the tournament, which it did not have before. The new distribution stands as follows:

• AFC (Asia) – eight places (up from 4.5);
• CAF (Africa) – nine places (up from 5);
• CONCACAF (North and Central America) – six places, of which three go to hosts (up from 3.5);
• CONMEBOL (South America) – six places (up from 4.5);
• OFC (Oceania) – one place (up from 0.5);
• UEFA (Europe) – 16 places (up from 13).

Interestingly, two additional World Cup 2026 participants will be selected in a play-off mini-tournament. Every confederation except Europe will take part in it.

Time zones and kick-off times

Matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played across multiple time zones, reflecting the unprecedented geographic scale of the tournament. With venues located in the United States, Canada and Mexico, local kick-off times will vary depending on the host city and region.

All match times listed in the schedule are shown in local time, based on the time zone of the stadium where the game is played. This means that two matches held on the same day may start several hours apart, even within the same phase of the tournament.

Host venues will operate across the following time zones:

• UTC−7 – Pacific Time (western United States and western Canada)
• UTC−6 – Central Time (Mexico and parts of the central United States)
• UTC−5 – Central and Eastern regions of the United States
• UTC−4 – Eastern Time (eastern United States and Canada)

As a result, kick-off times will range from early afternoon matches to late evening fixtures, depending on the location. Stadiums on the West Coast will generally host matches earlier in local time, while games played on the East Coast and in eastern Canada may begin later in the evening.

For travelling supporters and international viewers, this structure makes it essential to carefully check the local time of each match before planning travel, accommodation or onward journeys between host cities. Time differences can also affect rest days between matches for teams moving between regions.

Climate conditions at World Cup 2026 venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place between 11 June and 19 July 2026, meaning a significant part of the tournament will be played during the height of the North American summer. As a result, climate conditions will vary considerably between host cities, depending on geography, altitude and local weather patterns.

Mexico: altitude and summer rainfall

Mexico’s host venues introduce one of the most distinctive environmental factors of the tournament: altitude. Mexico City is located approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, which can affect match tempo, physical performance and recovery, particularly for teams arriving from lower elevations.

July also falls within the rainy season in much of central and western Mexico. Cities such as Mexico City and Guadalajara typically experience frequent afternoon or evening showers during this period, often intense but short-lived, followed by warm and humid conditions.

United States: heat, humidity and regional contrasts

Climate conditions across the United States vary widely between host regions. Southern cities such as Houston and Miami are known for high summer temperatures combined with strong humidity, which can significantly increase the perceived heat during daytime kick-off times.

In contrast, northern and coastal cities such as Seattle usually experience milder summer weather, with lower temperatures and cooler evenings. Several U.S. stadiums are equipped with retractable roofs, helping organisers manage extreme heat or sudden weather changes, while open-air venues remain more exposed to local conditions.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak | Fans heading to matches at Miami Stadium can expect high temperatures

Canada: milder summer climate

Canada’s World Cup matches will be played in Vancouver and Toronto, both of which generally experience milder summer conditions compared to many U.S. host cities. Vancouver benefits from a coastal climate, with moderate temperatures and cooler evenings, while Toronto can be warmer and more humid in July due to its inland location near Lake Ontario.

BC Place in Vancouver features a retractable roof, providing additional flexibility in case of rain or cooler weather, while Toronto’s open-air stadium means local conditions may play a greater role during matchdays.

World Cup 2026 key facts

Below is a quick summary of the most important information about the 2026 FIFA World Cup — designed to help you navigate the tournament and plan your match attendance with confidence.

Hosts: United States, Mexico and Canada

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition in history jointly hosted by three countries. Matches will be played across North America, creating an unprecedented geographic scale. A full breakdown of venues and regions can be found in the section World Cup 2026 host countries and cities overview.

Number of teams: 48

For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 national teams, significantly expanding the tournament. The new format increases the number of participants, matches and qualification paths. Detailed explanations of the system are available in World Cup 2026 tournament format and structure.

Total matches: 104

The expanded format results in 104 matches, compared to 64 in previous editions. This creates more opportunities to attend games live across multiple cities. The complete list of fixtures is available in the World Cup 2026 match schedule and tickets section.

Host cities: 16

A total of 16 cities will host matches: eleven in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. Each location offers different stadium characteristics and travel conditions. All host locations are presented in World Cup 2026 host cities overview.

Tournament dates: 11 June – 19 July 2026

The tournament will run for more than five weeks, covering the peak summer period. Match timings will vary by venue and region. To understand how local times affect scheduling, see Time zones and kick-off times.

Final match location: United States

All knockout matches from the quarter-finals onward, including the final in New York, will be staged in the United States. This centralises the decisive phase of the tournament. Details on match allocation are explained in World cup 2026 Matches and Tickets.

Stadium types: open-air and roofed venues

World Cup 2026 will be played in a mix of open-air stadiums and modern arenas with retractable roofs. This variety affects matchday conditions and scheduling. Stadium characteristics are described in World Cup 2026 host cities overview.

Time zones: four different zones

Matches will take place across four time zones, meaning kick-off times can differ by several hours on the same day. Careful planning is essential for travelling fans. A full explanation is available in Time zones and kick-off times.

Tickets and match availability

The match schedule and ticket table at the top of this page gives you direct access to verified listings for every World Cup fixture. If you rely on the official lottery, you face a 90% chance of missing out. This is the final World Cup for Messi and Ronaldo — their last dance. Want to feel it live, not just watch it? Buy tickets now with StadiumDB’s trusted ticket partner.

Planning your trip

Use the match table together with the planning sections above to compare venues, travel distances, kick-off times and host cities before finalising your itinerary.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak | Opened in 2017, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is one of the most advanced and modern sports venues in the world