MetLife Stadium will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, the organization announced Sunday.
The game will be played on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, a site with a capacity of 82,500.
“As an advocate for this region and a lifelong football fan, I am delighted that FIFA has chosen to place its trust in New York, New Jersey, to host the historic 26th FIFA World Cup Final,” said the New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, according to ESPN. . “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our entire region; hosting the finals provides NYNJ with an unparalleled platform to brilliantly showcase what we stand for: diversity, equality, access and inclusion.”
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MetLife Stadium has been chosen to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. (Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
MetLife Stadium has hosted numerous football matches in the past, including a match between Manchester United and Arsenal in July 2023, which featured a crowd of 82,262, the largest in its football match history.
The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, and the opening match of the tournament will take place in Mexico City. Mexico will play against a team from its group, which is yet to be determined.
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Meanwhile, the US men's national team will begin its World Cup journey in Los Angeles, playing its first game at SoFi Stadium on June 12. They will remain on the West Coast for all of their group stage games, two of which will be played in Seattle. also.
As for the semifinal matches, AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta will be the two venues used. Quarterfinal games will include SoFi, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
MetLife Stadium has been chosen to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. (Visionhaus/Getty Images)
FIFA's planning for this tournament is different from the usual one, in which only one country participates. They had to juggle four time zones in three different countries while also ensuring that players and fans were thought of in terms of well-being.
Instead of teams traveling around countries, FIFA worked with stakeholders to put together the schedule. The three countries were divided into eastern, central and western regions, where teams will practice and operate outside of the region in which their group stage will be played.
To ensure that preparation, as well as rest and recovery, are maximized, FIFA will ensure that all teams have three full days between matches.
Plus, by keeping teams in a specific region, fans won't have to travel to see them in person.
MetLife Stadium has been chosen to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. (Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
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The World Cup will also see 48 teams in the draw for the first time in history, expanding from 32 teams.
