The 2026 World Cup is set to be a momentous event, with 78 out of 104 games scheduled to be held in the United States, 13 in Mexico, and 13 in Canada. The tournament will mark the first time that the World Cup will be played in three nations, as well as the first time that the field will be expanded to 48 nations. The final will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026, with all games from the quarterfinals onwards being held in the U.S.
As part of the preparations for the tournament, FIFA has announced possible team training camps in various cities across the United States, including Chattanooga, Tennessee; Cincinnati; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Louisville, Kentucky; St. Louis; Salt Lake City; San Antonio; and Westfield, Indiana. Proposed training sites near the U.S. game venues include Atlanta; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Kansas City and Riverside, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas; and Philadelphia. Additional possible training camps in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey will also be considered.
In addition to the training camps, FIFA has released specific site matchups for the games in the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals, revealing the pathway through the knockout rounds for the host nations. For example, if the U.S. wins Group D, their first knockout match will be held in Santa Clara, California on July 1, with potential subsequent matches in Seattle, Inglewood, and Arlington. Alternatively, if the U.S. finishes second in their group, their next match would be in Arlington on July 3, with possible matches in Atlanta, Kansas City, and Atlanta again in the later stages of the tournament.
As the tournament draws closer, FIFA is expected to announce additional possible training camps and venues for the World Cup. The excitement is building as fans eagerly anticipate the start of the 2026 World Cup, which promises to be a historic and unforgettable event. With games spread across three nations and training camps in various cities, the tournament will showcase the best of soccer on an international stage. Stay tuned for more updates as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues.
