New Jersey to host 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium

Football

New Jersey to host 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium

Published: 05 Feb. 2024, 09:59 Updated: 05 Feb. 2024, 17:29

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

An aerial view showing MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on June 20, 2014 [AP/YONHAP]

The final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA announced Monday.

The final, scheduled for July 19, 2026, will take place at the home stadium of American football teams the New York Jets and the New York Giants. The stadium’s maximum capacity is 82,500.

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will open the tournament at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. The stadium is the official home of the Mexican national team and the Mexican professional team Club America.

The stadium is also the first to have hosted two FIFA World Cup finals: the 1970 and 1986 finals.

As one of the three host countries, Mexico will play the opening game at the Estadio Azteca.

The United States and Canada will also play their first 2026 World Cup games on home soil, with the United States starting the campaign in Los Angeles on June 12, the same time Canada kick off their journey in Toronto.

“The most inclusive and impactful FIFA World Cup ever is no longer a dream but a reality that will take shape in the form of 104 matches in 16 state-of-the-art stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the USA,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a press release Monday. “From the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca to the spectacular final in New York New Jersey players and fans have been at the core of our extensive planning for this game-changing tournament.”

The 2026 World Cup is the tournament's first time playing 48 teams — up from the previous 32. With the expanded format, the total number of games will increase from 64 to 104.

The expanded format will see twelve groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams reaching the round of 32.

The final draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place at the end of 2025.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]