Last reviewed: June 2026
The 2026 World Cup is held across 16 venues in three countries: 11 stadiums in the United States, 2 in Canada and 3 in Mexico. This is the complete guide to every host city and stadium, their capacities, which matches are played there, and what UK fans need to know about travelling to each city.
Key facts
- 16 venues across the USA (11), Canada (2) and Mexico (3) host the 2026 World Cup.
- MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts the final on 19 July 2026.
- Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosts the opening match on 11 June 2026.
- England play in Dallas (Texas), Boston (Massachusetts) and New Jersey.
- Scotland play in Boston (Massachusetts) and Miami (Florida).
- All knockout matches from the Round of 16 onwards take place in the USA.
The 16 Host Venues: Overview
The 2026 World Cup uses 16 stadiums spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The majority of matches are played at NFL stadiums in the United States, which have been adapted for international football. Eleven American Football stadiums in the USA provide the largest venues, with capacities ranging from approximately 65,000 to over 82,000. Canada contributes two venues, both in Toronto and Vancouver. Mexico uses three stadiums in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
All knockout matches from the Round of 16 onwards take place exclusively in the United States. The semi-finals are at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026.
USA Venues
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey - referred to by FIFA as New York New Jersey Stadium - is the final venue and the largest in the tournament at approximately 82,500 capacity. It is home to both NFL New York teams, the Giants and Jets. England play their third group match there (vs Panama, 27 June). The stadium is approximately 8 miles from Manhattan across the Hudson River, accessible by NJ Transit rail and bus services.
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas area) hosts England's opening match against Croatia on 17 June and is one of the World Cup semi-final venues. With a capacity of approximately 80,000, it is home to the NFL Dallas Cowboys. Arlington is in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area, approximately 20 miles from downtown Dallas.
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (Boston area) hosts England vs Ghana on 23 June, Scotland vs Haiti on 13 June and Scotland vs Morocco on 19 June. With a capacity of approximately 65,878, it is home to the NFL New England Patriots. Foxborough is approximately 25 miles south-west of Boston, accessible by commuter rail from South Station.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida hosts Scotland vs Brazil on 24 June. With a capacity of approximately 65,326, it is home to the NFL Miami Dolphins. Miami Gardens is in northern Miami-Dade County, approximately 16 miles north of downtown Miami.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia is a World Cup semi-final venue and hosts multiple group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 71,000, it is home to the NFL Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and serves as a major hub for transatlantic connections.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (Los Angeles area) hosts multiple group stage matches including USA vs Paraguay on 12 June. With a capacity of approximately 70,240, it is home to both the NFL Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. LAX airport is approximately 4 miles from the stadium.
Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area) hosts group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 68,500, it is home to the NFL San Francisco 49ers. Santa Clara is in Silicon Valley, approximately 45 miles south of San Francisco.
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hosts group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 69,796, it is home to the NFL Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia International Airport serves direct transatlantic routes from several UK airports.
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri hosts group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 76,416, it is home to the NFL Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl champions. Kansas City is approximately 1,200 miles from both coasts and is served by Kansas City International Airport.
NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas hosts group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 72,220, it is home to the NFL Houston Texans. Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport serves several direct UK routes.
Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington hosts group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 68,740, it is home to the NFL Seattle Seahawks. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is in the Pacific Northwest and is approximately 14 miles from the stadium.
Canadian Venues
BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario is the smaller of the two Canadian venues and the home of MLS side Toronto FC, with a capacity of approximately 30,000. Toronto is accessible from the UK by direct transatlantic flight to Toronto Pearson International Airport. The stadium hosts Group B matches including Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina on 12 June.
BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia has a capacity of approximately 54,500 and hosts group stage matches. Vancouver International Airport serves some direct transatlantic routes and connections through Canadian hubs. Vancouver is on the Pacific coast and follows Pacific Time, eight hours behind BST.
Mexican Venues
Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosts the opening match of the tournament on 11 June 2026 - Mexico vs South Africa at 8pm BST. With a capacity of approximately 87,500, the Azteca is the largest stadium in the tournament and one of the most storied venues in football history. It hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. Mexico City sits at an altitude of approximately 2,240 metres above sea level, which can affect player performance and is a factor in planning training schedules.
Estadio AKRON in Guadalajara, Jalisco hosts group stage matches in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city. With a capacity of approximately 49,850, it is the home of Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas). Guadalajara is approximately 300 miles west of Mexico City.
Estadio BBva in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon hosts group stage matches. With a capacity of approximately 51,000, it is home to CF Monterrey. Monterrey is in northern Mexico, approximately 140 miles from the Texas border, and is Mexico's third-largest city.
UK Fan Travel Considerations
UK fans travelling to watch England or Scotland will primarily be focused on East Coast venues, where most UK-nation group stage matches take place. Both England and Scotland play at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough near Boston. England also play in Dallas and New Jersey, Scotland also play in Miami.
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is served by direct transatlantic flights from several UK airports. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) serves the MetLife Stadium area in New Jersey and is better connected to central New Jersey than JFK or LaGuardia. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) serves the AT&T Stadium area. Miami International Airport (MIA) serves Hard Rock Stadium.
All US venues require UK visitors to hold a valid ESTA or US visa. ESTA applications cost 21 US dollars and are made at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. UK citizens visiting Mexico require a valid passport but Mexico does not require a visa for UK citizens for stays of up to 180 days. Canadian venues require UK citizens to hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for Canada, costing 7 Canadian dollars, applied for at canada.ca/eta.
UK fans should note that while all three host countries are accessible by transatlantic flight, travel between multiple venues within the USA involves significant domestic distances. The continental USA spans approximately 3,000 miles from East to West Coast, and flying between venues such as Boston and Los Angeles, or Miami and Seattle, involves journeys of five to six hours. Planning travel between Scotland's Boston venues and Miami, or England's Dallas and New Jersey venues, should account for flight times, connections and accommodation availability in host cities during the tournament period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stadiums are used in the 2026 World Cup?
16 stadiums across three countries: 11 in the USA, 2 in Canada and 3 in Mexico.
Where is the 2026 World Cup final?
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday 19 July 2026. The kick-off is at 3pm Eastern Time, which is 8pm BST for UK viewers. The stadium is approximately 8 miles west of Manhattan.
Where do England play their group matches?
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (vs Croatia, 17 June), Gillette Stadium in Foxborough near Boston (vs Ghana, 23 June), and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (vs Panama, 27 June).
Where do Scotland play their group matches?
Gillette Stadium in Foxborough near Boston (vs Haiti, 13 June and vs Morocco, 19 June) and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (vs Brazil, 24 June).
Do I need an ESTA for the USA venues?
Yes. UK citizens visiting any US venue need a valid ESTA (21 USD, apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov) or a US visa. For Canadian venues, UK citizens need an eTA (7 CAD, apply at canada.ca/eta). Mexico does not require a visa for UK citizens for short visits.
