2026 World Cup Host Cities & Stadiums: The Complete Guide

2026 World Cup Host Cities & Stadiums: The Complete Guide

16 cities. 3 countries. 1 tournament. Everything you need to know — whether you’re traveling to the matches or sourcing the scarves.


Where Is the 2026 World Cup Being Played?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest in history: 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is the first time three countries have co-hosted the tournament, and the first time any World Cup matches will be played in Canada.

The United States will host the majority of matches (78), with Canada hosting 11 and Mexico hosting 10. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — just outside New York City.

Which Cities Made the Cut?

Here’s the full list, by country:

  • 🇺🇸 United States (11 cities): New York/New Jersey, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Miami
  • 🇨🇦 Canada (2 cities): Vancouver, Toronto
  • 🇲🇽 Mexico (3 cities): Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara

Notably missing from the final list: Chicago (Soldier Field opted out), Denver, Nashville, and the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena (which hosted the 1994 final).

Full Stadium List: Where Every Match Is Played

Here’s every stadium hosting World Cup 2026 matches, with capacity and the number of games each will host.

StadiumCapacityCityCountryMatches
MetLife Stadium82,500East Rutherford, NJUSA8 (including Final)
AT&T Stadium80,000Arlington, TXUSA8 (including semifinal)
Arrowhead Stadium76,416Kansas City, MOUSA6 (including quarterfinal)
NRG Stadium72,220Houston, TXUSA7
Mercedes-Benz Stadium71,000Atlanta, GAUSA8 (including semifinal)
SoFi Stadium70,240Inglewood, CAUSA8 (including quarterfinal)
Lincoln Financial Field69,796Philadelphia, PAUSA7
Lumen Field69,000Seattle, WAUSA6
Levi’s Stadium68,500Santa Clara, CAUSA6
Gillette Stadium65,878Foxborough, MAUSA7 (including quarterfinal)
Hard Rock Stadium64,767Miami Gardens, FLUSA7 (including bronze match)
Estadio Azteca87,523Mexico CityMexico5
Estadio BBVA53,500MonterreyMexico4
Estadio Akron46,232GuadalajaraMexico4
BC Place54,000VancouverCanada6
BMO Field45,500TorontoCanada7

Fun Facts for Traveling Fans

  • Biggest stadium: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) — 87,523. It’s hosting World Cup matches for the third time (1970, 1986, 2026).
  • Smallest stadium: BMO Field (Toronto) — 45,500. Still, it’s the largest soccer-specific stadium in Canada.
  • First-time host cities: Vancouver and Toronto will host the first World Cup matches ever played in Canada.
  • Returning venues: The Rose Bowl (1994 final) was on the initial bid list but was cut in 2022 — a surprise to many fans.
  • Longest distance between host cities: Vancouver to Mexico City is roughly 5,000 km (3,100 miles). Plan your travel accordingly!

🎟️ If you’re planning a trip to one of these cities — enjoy the matches!

But if you’re reading this because your team, brand, store, or organization needs fan scarves for 2026, keep scrolling. The rest of this guide is written for you.


Buyer’s Guide: Sourcing Fan Scarves for World Cup 2026

For sourcing professionals, brand managers, and team organizers. The information below is not for fans — it’s for anyone placing a fan scarf order.

Market-Specific Requirements You Cannot Ignore

🇨🇦 Canada — Bilingual Packaging Is the Law

  • Packaging: English + French required. This is not optional. Scarves sold in Vancouver or Toronto without French packaging can be rejected by retailers.
  • Climate: Mild (15-20°C / 59-68°F). Lightweight to midweight scarves (180-220 GSM).
  • Lead time: Vancouver port is slower than East Coast. Plan extra 7-10 days for customs.
  • Certifications: Oeko-Tex Standard 100 expected. GRS increasingly requested.

🇲🇽 Mexico — Spanish Labels and CFDI Invoices

  • Packaging: Spanish labels required. CFDI tax invoice required for B2B sales — be prepared for extra paperwork.
  • Climate: Warm days, cool nights. Mexico City altitude (2,240m) means temperature swings.
  • Pricing: Price-sensitive market. High-volume, lower-margin expected.
  • Lead time: Manzanillo or Lázaro Cárdenas ports: 30-35 days sea freight.

🇺🇸 United States — The Largest, Most Complex Market

  • Packaging: English only. Bilingual (English/Spanish) recommended for Texas, California, Florida.
  • Climate: Varies widely. Seattle (cool, rainy) → Miami (hot, humid). One weight does NOT fit all.
  • Pricing: Highest margins, most competitive. Premium quality expected for final matches.
  • Lead time: Multiple ports: LA/Long Beach, NY/NJ, Houston, Miami — 25-35 days.
  • Certifications: Oeko-Tex Standard 100 required. GRS is growing but not yet universal.

Lead Time & Documentation Quick Reference

CountrySea Freight (China →)Packaging LanguageKey CertificationsDuty Rate (Est.)
Canada25-35 daysEnglish + FrenchOeko-Tex, GRS (opt)~18%
Mexico30-35 daysSpanishOeko-Tex recommended~20-25%
USA25-35 daysEnglish (Spanish opt)Oeko-Tex, GRS growing~15-19%

Duty rates vary by HS code (typically 6117.10 for scarves) and country of origin. Consult your customs broker for exact rates.

Three Questions Every Fan Scarf Buyer Must Answer

1. Which cities are you targeting?
The final (MetLife Stadium) demands premium quality. Early group stage matches can use lower-cost options. Plan accordingly.

2. Can your factory handle multiple regional requirements?
Different packaging languages, different weights, different labels. A factory that treats every order the same will cause compliance problems.

3. Is your documentation ready for customs?
Canada and Mexico have specific paperwork requirements. The US is more straightforward but demands Oeko-Tex certification.

Not sure? That’s exactly why we wrote this buyer’s guide.


Ready to Source Your 2026 Fan Scarves?

We manufacture custom fan scarves for World Cup 2026 merchandise programs. Based in the Hangzhou-Shaoxing manufacturing corridor — the heart of China’s jacquard and rPET supply chain.

Capabilities: Jacquard knitting, GRS-certified rPET, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, bilingual packaging, multiple weight options, and customs documentation support for North America.

📌 Contact us for host-city specific sourcing advice → Get a no-obligation specification review