World Cup 2026 opened on 11 June 2026 and ended on 19 July — and for the first time in history the tournament was held in three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico. The opening matches were spread across several cities at once, with New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles and San Francisco among the first to host matches.
11 June 2026 is the official opening date of World Cup 2026. Unlike previous World Cups, which had a single opening match, the expanded format of 48 national teams means there are several group-stage matches already on the first day. The final is scheduled for 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — one of the largest and most prestigious stadiums in North America, with a capacity of close to 82,000 people.
The United States, as the main host, will play its opening match at the start of the tournament — and the eyes of all American fans will be fixed on that event. This is also the USA's first home tournament since 1994, which is still considered one of the most successful tournaments in history in terms of crowd attendance.
World Cup 2026 is held in 16 host cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Canada and 2 in Mexico. In the USA: New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco/San Jose, Dallas, Seattle, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Houston. In Canada: Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City. In Mexico: Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Each of these cities will host several group-stage matches, and the knockout stages will reach the biggest cities. New York/New Jersey wins the greatest prestige — the final itself. Tickets for matches in cities like Los Angeles, New York and Miami are expected to be in the highest demand, partly due to the concentration of tourists and fans.
Q: When exactly does World Cup 2026 open?
A: 11 June 2026 is the official opening date, with the final on 19 July 2026.
Q: Which stadium hosts the final?
A: The final is held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (the New York area) — one of the largest stadiums in North America.
Q: How many host cities are there in World Cup 2026?
A: 16 cities in total — 11 in the USA, 3 in Canada and 2 in Mexico.
The World Cup ended on 19 July 2026 (Spain 1-0 Argentina). For the full summary of the tournament — and for upcoming events, the 2026/27 Champions League.
