2026 World Cup Matches in the USA: What Fans Need to Know

All 11 World Cup Host Cities 2026 in the USA

These are all confirmed 2026 World Cup locations in the USA, ordered by match count, with the FIFA tournament name, capacity, knockout-stage allocation, and one local detail worth knowing.

Home of the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, MetLife is the site of the most important 90 minutes in world football this summer. Manhattan is a 20-minute train ride on the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle running directly to the stadium on match days. The Final on July 19 will also be the first World Cup Final in history to feature a halftime show, confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen. For pre-match food, the walk through Little Italy on Mulberry Street earns its reputation: a folded New York pizza slice from any counter is the correct move. The queue is part of the ritual.

AT&T Stadium in Arlington is the largest World Cup venue by capacity and hosts more matches than any other stadium in the tournament. The retractable dome and full climate control mean the July heat is irrelevant inside. The HD screen suspended from the ceiling is roughly the size of a football pitch. Deep Ellum neighbourhood in Dallas proper is the right base for the night before: live music, Tex-Mex, and craft beer within walking distance of each other. Whataburger at 2 am is not a tourist trap. It is a genuine local institution worth understanding on its own terms.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium is arguably the most architecturally distinctive venue on this list. The retractable roof opens like a camera iris, and the circular LED halo board stretching over 1,000 feet above the pitch creates one of the most immersive environments in American sport. Atlanta's Ponce City Market sits in a converted 1920s distribution warehouse and is the best single food destination near any World Cup venue in the USA: a full floor of restaurants, a rooftop, and no tourists who are not there specifically for the food. Roscoe's chicken and waffles is a match-day pre-game meal that requires no further justification.

SoFi Stadium opened in 2020 at a total cost of $5.5 billion, making it the most expensive stadium ever built. It will also host Super Bowl LXI in 2027 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, making this summer the beginning of a remarkable three-year run. The translucent roof covers but does not enclose the stadium, giving it an unusual open-sided feel for what is largely an indoor experience. Los Angeles has the largest Mexican-American population of any US city, and the atmosphere for any CONCACAF match here will be extraordinary. Pre-match tacos on Olvera Street, the oldest street in Los Angeles, is the right call. The tortillas are made to order.

A $95 round-trip express bus service runs directly between downtown Boston and the stadium on match days, confirmed by the Boston host committee. The MBTA also runs a direct Boston Stadium Train from South Station to Foxborough on match days, with tickets requiring a same-day World Cup match ticket to purchase. For pre-match food, the North End is Boston's Italian neighbourhood and one of the best restaurant streets on the East Coast. A cannoli from Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street before the match is a Boston institution. The queue at Mike's is always moving.

Note for fans: No tailgating is permitted at Gillette Stadium for World Cup matches.

Houston is the most ethnically diverse city in the USA, and its World Cup atmosphere will reflect that entirely. NRG Stadium was the NFL's first retractable-roof stadium and handles the Texas July heat with full climate control. The July 4 Round of 16 fixture here falls on the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Montrose neighbourhood is the place for pre-match food and drink: independent restaurants, good bars, and a neighbourhood that operates on Houston time rather than tourist time. A kolache from a Houston bakery before an early kick-off costs almost nothing and is the kind of local food detail that stays with you.

South Florida has the highest concentration of Latin American communities of any US metropolitan area. Every South American team that reaches the quarterfinal will feel effectively at home here. Hard Rock Stadium also hosts the third-place match on July 18, giving Miami two late-stage fixtures and making it one of the best single-city bases for fans following the knockout rounds. Wynwood Walls, Miami's open-air street art district, is the pre-match neighbourhood. A Cuban sandwich from Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana is mandatory. It is one of those meals that earns its reputation.

Lumen Field is known as one of the loudest outdoor sports venues in North America, driven by its design: a partially enclosed roof concentrates crowd noise directly onto the pitch. Seattle is the greenest and most outdoors-focused of all the host cities. Pike Place Market, a 10-minute walk from the waterfront, is the best pre-match destination: fresh salmon, local cheese, flowers, and the original Starbucks. A flat white from the original Starbucks on Pike Place is a pilgrimage that costs about $6 and takes around 40 minutes of queuing, which you should absolutely do at least once.

Arrowhead Stadium holds the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium, 142.2 decibels recorded during a 2014 NFL game against the New England Patriots. The World Cup quarterfinal here will be one of the most intense atmospheres of the entire tournament. Kansas City BBQ is among the most serious regional food cultures in the USA. Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is the specific address. The burnt ends, the dish Kansas City is known for internationally, are sold only until they run out each day. Arrive before midday.

The July 4 Round of 16 match at Lincoln Financial Field falls on the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, signed in Philadelphia in 1776. The significance will not be lost on either the stadium or the city. Philadelphia's sports fans are among the most intense in the USA, and the atmosphere for any knockout match here will be loud. A cheesesteak from Pat's or Geno's in South Philly is the correct pre-match ritual. Both are open 24 hours. Both claim to be the original. The debate is unresolvable and entirely the point.

Levi's Stadium is in Santa Clara, roughly 45 miles south of San Francisco, home of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. The Bay Area's climate is the most temperate of any US host city: mild June temperatures, low humidity, and almost no rain. The Ferry Building Marketplace on San Francisco's Embarcadero waterfront is the best single food market near a World Cup venue in California: sourdough bread, Dungeness crab, local oysters, and some of the best coffee in the country. It is worth travelling from Santa Clara into the city before a match just for the Ferry Building alone.

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FAQs

Where are the US stadiums for the World Cup?

The USA has 11 World Cup stadiums across 11 cities: MetLife (New York/NJ), AT&T (Dallas), Mercedes-Benz (Atlanta), SoFi (Los Angeles), Gillette (Boston), NRG (Houston), Hard Rock (Miami), Lumen Field (Seattle), Arrowhead (Kansas City), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), and Levi's Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area). Every stadium is listed with capacity and match allocation in the guide above.

How expensive is a 2026 World Cup ticket?

The cheapest publicly available ticket is approximately $120 USD for a Cat 3 group stage neutral match. National federation-allocated Supporter Entry Tier tickets start at $60 but are not available to the general public. Final Cat 1 face-value tickets are $7,875 USD. These are the most expensive World Cup tickets in history. All prices are subject to a 15% FIFA service fee at checkout.

Where is the 2026 World Cup final being held?

The Final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. During the tournament, FIFA refers to it as the New York/New Jersey Stadium. Manhattan is approximately 10 miles away. The Final will also be the first World Cup Final to feature a halftime show, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin in partnership with Global Citizen.

Do I need a visa to attend the 2026 World Cup in the USA?

Fans from the 42 Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, EU nations, Australia, and Japan, need an approved ESTA (approximately $21 USD, applied online). Fans from non-VWP countries need a B1/B2 visitor visa. Interview wait times at US embassies in some countries currently exceed 300 days. A World Cup ticket does not guarantee entry. Check travel.state.gov for current requirements.

Which US city has the most World Cup matches?

Dallas (AT&T Stadium) hosts 9 matches, more than any other venue in the tournament, including a semifinal on July 14.

What is FIFA PASS and how does it work?

FIFA PASS is a priority visa interview appointment system for fans who purchased tickets directly from FIFA and opted in. It gives eligible applicants faster access to US embassy interview appointment slots. It does not change visa eligibility, waive requirements, or guarantee approval. Fans from VWP countries who use ESTA do not need a FIFA PASS.

Can I travel between multiple World Cup 2026 cities in the USA on one trip?

Yes, and many international fans are planning multi-city itineraries. The key planning points are: book domestic flights now as match weekend fares have already surged, use Amtrak for the Northeast corridor, and ensure your visa or ESTA covers your full length of stay. Confirm your entry authorisation covers all cities on your itinerary before booking.

Are 2026 World Cup tickets sold out?

The FIFA resale marketplace is operating. Official face-value tickets via FIFA.com/tickets may still be available for some group stage and earlier knockout matches. Later knockout stage and Final tickets are extremely scarce through official channels. Third-party platforms, including StubHub and Vivid Seats, have resale inventory at significantly above face value.

Disclaimer

The information in this blog is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. Stadium capacities reflect FIFA World Cup configuration figures based on publicly available data at the time of writing and may vary by match setup. Ticket prices reflect face-value figures from the official FIFA ticketing portal at the time of writing. Actual resale market prices vary significantly. Visa requirements, ESTA eligibility, and entry conditions are subject to change. Presidential Proclamation 10998 visa restrictions are subject to revision. Always verify current US entry requirements at travel.state.gov and the official US embassy in your country before booking. A World Cup ticket does not guarantee entry into the United States. FIFA PASS affects visa interview appointment scheduling only and does not change visa eligibility. Jetpac is not responsible for network variations, third-party service changes, or connectivity issues in any destination. No product endorsement is implied or intended.