FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the 16 finalist host cities from a list of 22 for the 2026 World Cup. “Today is a historic day – for everyone in those cities and states, for FIFA, for Canada, the USA and Mexico who will put on the greatest show on Earth,” he said during his New York live broadcast.

For the first time ever, the tournament will be staged across three host nations, taking place in 16 cities. Two of the locations are in Canada, three in Mexico and eleven in the United States. The exact site for the opening and closing matches, as well as particular games, will be announced at a later date. The 2026 tournament will have several firsts for the World Cup. Four years from now, 48 teams will compete in the biggest worldwide event of the “beautiful game” instead of the 32 in the current format. Also normally the World Cup is hosted by just one nation, the only exception to date was the 2002 tournament which was hosted by both Japan and South Korea. The three nations hosting the 2026 World Cup teamed up in a joint bid for the games dubbing themselves the United Bid, under the motto “Unity. Certainty. Opportunity.” The trio’s bid was chosen in 2018, beating out Morocco. This will be the second time the US will host the World Cup, previously hosting the tournament in 1994, and it will be the third time for Mexico, hosting the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.

FIFA 2026 World Cup host cities