2026 World Cup stadiums set stage for historic tournament

Thursday 11 June 2026 - 07:27

By: Dakir Madiha

2026 World Cup stadiums set stage for historic tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will unfold across 16 stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada, marking the largest edition of the tournament ever held. With 48 national teams competing in 104 matches, the competition will span three host countries and bring together some of the most recognized sporting venues in North America.

Morocco will begin its World Cup campaign against Brazil at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The venue, which can accommodate more than 82,000 spectators, will play a central role throughout the tournament. In addition to hosting Morocco’s opening match, it will stage the World Cup final on July 19 and several other major fixtures, including a semi-final. Eight matches in total are scheduled at the stadium.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be the largest venue used during the competition, with capacity for approximately 94,000 fans. The stadium is scheduled to host nine matches, including one of the tournament’s two semi-finals. Another key venue is Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, known for its retractable roof and advanced facilities, which will also welcome a World Cup semi-final and several high-profile matches.

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will host seven games, including the third-place play-off. In Mexico, the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the opening match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11. The stadium previously staged opening matches in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, becoming the first venue to host tournament openers in three different editions.

Canada’s World Cup activities will focus on BC Place in Vancouver and BMO Field in Toronto. BC Place will host several important matches involving the Canadian national team, while BMO Field has undergone expansion work to meet tournament requirements. Together, they will serve as Canada’s two host venues for the competition.

Additional stadiums selected for the tournament include SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, NRG Stadium in Houston, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Levi’s Stadium near San Francisco, Gillette Stadium near Boston, Lumen Field in Seattle, BBVA Stadium in Monterrey and Akron Stadium in Guadalajara. These venues will collectively host the largest World Cup ever organized, from the opening whistle in Mexico City to the final match in New Jersey.

For Moroccan supporters, particular attention remains focused on MetLife Stadium, where the Atlas Lions will face Brazil in one of the most anticipated group-stage encounters. The match is expected to be among the headline fixtures of the opening phase of the tournament.