World Cup 2026: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to host World Cup final on 19 July
The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July, while the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will stage the opening group game on 11 June.
Mexico is one of three countries co-hosting the expanded 48-team tournament along with USA and Canada.
They have hosted two World Cups on their own, in 1970 and 1986.
Canada’s first game will take place in Toronto on 12 June, with Dallas hosting a record nine matches.
The Azteca was the venue for Argentina striker Diego Maradona’s famous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in the 1986 quarter-finals.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino announced the plans on Sunday and also revealed the third-place play-off match will take place in Miami.
The semi-finals of the tournament have been handed to Dallas and Atlanta.
The tournament will last 39 days, 10 more than the 2022 edition in Qatar.
In total, 16 cities have been chosen including Monterrey and Guadalajara in Mexico, and Vancouver in Canada.
Boston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, Houston, Seattle and San Francisco make up the US contingent.
Infantino said he is expecting a competition to remember, adding: “Soccer unites the world. Biggest spectacle the universe has ever seen here in North America.”
More to follow.
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