Our Bureau
New Jersey, NJ
The New York New Jersey Stadium has been confirmed as the venue for the FIFA World Cup 26 final on July 19, 2026, the world soccer’s governing body FIFA announced. The 104-game tournament featuring 48 teams across 16 host cities is being co-hosted by three countries– the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“The iconic New York New Jersey venue was awarded the honor of hosting the showpiece fixture, which will bring the curtain down on the most inclusive FIFA tournament ever,” the FIFA statement read.
The New York bid held off a strong challenge from Dallas to secure the July 19 game, the culmination of the expanded 48-team tournament being co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The stadium for the final, which has a capacity of 82,500, opened in 2010. The ground also was the venue for the final of the 2016 Copa America Centenario, when Chile defeated Lionel Messi’s Argentina on penalties.
FIFA World Cup 26 will kick off on June 11, 2026, with hosts Mexico having the honor of getting the tournament underway in their capital city.
Atlanta and Dallas will host the semi-finals while the third-place game will be played in Miami. The quarter-final games will take place in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston.
The 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium, across the Hudson River from New York in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets but has held a number of international football games, including the final of the 2016 Copa America tournament.
The New York bid had lobbied hard on the city’s experience at hosting major international events and it’s position as a global city with easy transportation connections for fans.
Dallas had hoped that AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, home to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, would benefit from having a roof to protect the game from the elements.
