The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Sixteen host cities share the tournament, from Vancouver and Seattle in the west to New York/New Jersey and Toronto in the east, with Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey representing the south.

Mexico becomes the first country to host World Cup matches in three different tournaments (1970, 1986, 2026). The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area, while the opening match takes place in Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca.

Spreading the event across a continent brings logistical challenges — long travel distances, varied climates and multiple time zones — but also a vast and passionate audience. Teams will need to plan carefully around heat, altitude and travel when mapping out their group-stage campaigns.