With the 2026 World Cup schedule to be released imminently, football fans both in the United States and around the world will learn the location of all games for the rapidly approaching international tournament.
The coming tournament will be hosted across three countries for the first time, and it will feature an expanded 48-team field as FIFA aims for the largest World Cup in history.
While the competition will culminate with the final on July 19, 2026, the opening match will garner similar fanfare as the curtain is raised on this massively hyped FIFA tournament.
The Sporting News brings you the latest on where the opening match of the coming World Cup will be held, scheduled to take place in mid-June of 2026.
MORE: MetLife Stadium in NYC metro area selected to host 2026 World Cup final
Estadio Azteca to host 2026 World Cup opening match
It was widely expected that the famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A report by The Times claimed that the iconic arena will have the honor of opening the competition, and that was confirmed by FIFA as they revealed the tournament schedule on February 4, 2024.
The game will take place on June 11, 2026, kicking off a tournament that will last just over one month.
With the Azteca will host the 2026 World Cup opener, it means that Mexico will play in the first match of the 2026 World Cup, sitting as joint-hosts alongside the United States and Mexico. Per FIFA tradition, the hosts are pre-drawn into Group A so they may play in the opening match.
Being that this is the first time multiple countries will host, there are no precedents to follow, but it seems logical that Mexico will be given a predetermined spot in Group A so it can raise the curtain at its home fortress.
As the location of both the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, the venue is embedded in global football lore. The first saw Pele win his final World Cup title with Brazil, while the latter anointed Diego Maradona as an Argentine legend after the "Hand of God" game against England.
MORE: Full match schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup in USA, Canada, Mexico
Estadio Azteca to make FIFA World Cup history in 2026
With Estadio Azteca officially gaining the honor of hosting the 2026 World Cup opener, it sees the venue become the only stadium across the globe to host matches at three different World Cup tournaments.
The Azteca hosted the 1970 World Cup final as Pele's 18th-minute goal led the way for a 4-1 Brazil victory over Italy. Sixteen years later at the very same stadium, Diego Maradona and Argentina emerged victorious 3-2 over West Germany thanks to an 84th minute winner from Jorge Burruchaga.
Since 1986, it has already been the only venue globally to ever host two World Cup finals, but the 2026 final will be played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, so a third final was not on the cards.
The Mexico City venue has a capacity of 80,000 spectators, but its record attendance is far greater, as 119,853 fans crammed in as Brazil topped Mexico 2-0 in a friendly, with two goals from Jairzinho. The massive crowd came after El Tri had defeated Brazil 2-1 just three days prior, so fans were clamoring to see if the hosts could trigger another upset.
Other 2026 World Cup venues for USA, Canada, Mexico
FIFA announced the full 2026 World Cup schedule on February 4, 2024. They revealed the location of all 104 matches across the entirety of the competition.
United States
The majority of the 2026 World Cup will be hosted in the United States. AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas will host the most matches, with nine games at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Despite heavy reporting that one of those games would be the 2026 World Cup final, the big match will instead be played at MetLife Stadium in the New York City metro area.
The U.S. national team will play its three group stage games in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Los Angeles again, in that order. Two of those games are at the brand new SoFi Stadium.
| Market | State | Country | Venue | Capacity | No. of matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | NY/NJ | USA | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | 5 group stage games, Round of 32 match, Round of 16 match, Final |
| Dallas | TX | USA | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 | 5 group stage games, 2 Round of 32 games, Round of 16 match, Semifinal match |
| Kansas City | KS | USA | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 | 4 group stage games |
| Houston | TX | USA | NRG Stadium | 71,795 | 5 group stage games, Round of 32 match, Round of 16 match |
| Atlanta | GA | USA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 | 5 group stage games, Round of 32 match, Round of 16 match, Semifinal match |
| Los Angeles | CA | USA | SoFi Stadium | 70,240 | 5 group stage games, 2 Round of 32 matches, Quarterfinal match |
| Philadelphia | PA | USA | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,176 | 5 group stage games, Round of 16 match |
| Seattle | WA | USA | Lumen Field | 69,000 | 4 group stage games, Round of 32 match, Round of 16 match |
| San Francisco | CA | USA | Levi's Stadium | 68,500 | 5 group stage games, Round of 32 match |
| Boston | MA | USA | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 | 5 group stage games, Round of 32 match, Quarterfinal match |
| Miami | FL | USA | Hard Rock Stadium | 64,767 | 4 group stage, Round of 32 match, Quarterfinal match 3rd place match |
Mexico
Mexico will host 10 group stage games. The Mexican national team will play its opening match in Mexico City at Estadio Azteca, in the first game of the entire 2026 World Cup. They will then play their next games in Guadalajara, followed by a return to the Azteca in the nation's capital.
| Market | State | Country | Venue | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Mexico | Estadio Azteca | 87,523 | 3 group stage games (including opening match), Round of 32 match, Round of 16 match | |
| Monterrey | NL | Mexico | Estadio BBVA | 53,500 | 3 group stage games, Round of 32 match |
| Guadalajara | JAL | Mexico | Estadio Akron | 46,232 | 4 group stage games |
Canada
Canada will host 10 group stage games, like Mexico will as well. The Canadian national team will play its first match in Toronto, followed by a pair of matches on the opposite coast in Vancouver.
| Market | State | Country | Venue | Capacity | No. of matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver | BC | Canada | BC Place | 54,000 | 5 group stage games, Round of 16 match |
| Toronto | ON | Canada | BMO Field | 45,500* | 5 group stage games, Round of 32 match |
