2026 world cup venue visits | The World Cup 2026 candidate host cities Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle (USA), and Monterrey (Mexico) will receive a physical visit from a FIFA delegation from October 21, 2021.
Previously, from September 15 to 23, it was the turn of these possible 2026 World Cup host cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Nashville, Orlando, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami and Washington DC (USA). And from the end of November this year, a FIFA visit will follow to the remaining cities that hope to host the World Cup in the year 2026. Ultimately, the organization will choose sixteen World Cup host cities spread over the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The last candidate host cities for the global football spectacle in the North American countries USA, Canada and Mexico to be visited? Those are: Los Angeles (USA), Edmonton and Toronto (Canada), plus Guadalajara and Mexico City (Mexico). FIFA has announced this today. Montreal (Canada) has already withdrawn.
FIFA hopes to complete the selection process (delayed by corona) in the first or second quarter of 2022. The next round of visits, which starts on October 21, will last until November 1. Victor Montagliani is head of the inspection delegation. He is both CONCACAF President and Vice President of FIFA. Several specialist are assisting him. They look at crucial components that make a host city suitable for successfully welcoming the football world.
2026 World Cup venue visits: which host cities?
The expertise relates to the infrastructure of the city and stadium, logistics and team facilities. But also to legal and commercial matters as well as long-term aspects such as legacy and sustainability. Other examples: the quality of the training accommodations for the 2026 World Cup teams that eventually qualify. And the suitability of the locations for hosting the massive and exciting FIFA Fan Festival™. More information about the requirements for a host city? This you can find on our page with the 2026 World Cup Bid.
2026 world cup venue visits. The will and desire of the remaining candidates to become one of the sixteen World Cup host cities is enormous. This is evident from the increasing activity, media attention and tension in each of the cities and regions. This was also apparent from the great enthusiasm with which the first host cities welcomed and informed the FIFA delegation. Not surprising. The World Cup in North America in 2026 may culminate in the largest event that has ever taken place.
Record number of 80 matches in the WC 2026 cities
A record 48 teams will qualify for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The schedule starts for all countries in the world with the qualifiers: scheduled from 2023. The groups are divided into the six continental FIFA Zones. CONCACAF (North America, Central America, and the Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), UEFA (Europe), and OFC (Oceania). FIFA is yet to announce the exact dates of the qualifying series. Read on this site how the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers work.
80 matches
The final round in 2026 will show a total of 80 matches. The tournament starts with the group stage, consisting of sixteen groups of three countries. This is the subdivision of the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities and stadiums, looking at the countries:
- 10 World Cup cities in the United States
- 2 World Cup cities in Canada (after the withdrawal of Montreal)
- 3 World Cup cities in Mexico
Currently there are 22 candidate FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities left. Seventeen are located in the United States. Seven of them will drop out in the course of 2022.
World Cup soccer final in New York
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final in North America will take place in New York/New Jersey at the MetLife Stadium. Los Angeles (Rose Bowl) or Mexico City (Azteca Stadium) will host the opening match. The aforementioned information is subject to final decisions. The Preliminary Draw of the World Cup 2026 soccer will take place in July of 2023. This draw determines the grouping of all qualifying zones of the world’s football continents. These are Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, Oceania, and North, Central America and the Caribbean. The FIFA World Cup final draw will take place by the end of 2025.
