2026 WORLD CUP FOOTBALL

FIFA™ | United States of America, Canada & Mexico

Montreal no longer Candidate Host City

Montreal is no longer a Candidate Host City for the FIFA 2026 World Cup™. The city from Canada has withdrawn from the selection process. The city of Montreal, through Canada Soccer, officially notified the World Football Association on July 6, 2021. The reason for the withdrawal of the candidacy is a lack of funding. This had been an uncertain factor for some time after costs exceeded (roughly) $50 million to $103 million. The province of Quebec can no longer account for sufficient financial support to the taxpayer, their government has indicated. Montreal has been a candidate host since 2018.

The FIFA World Cup in June and July 2026 will take place in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Toronto and Edmonton are the two remaining Canadian host cities for the World Cup in North America. In addition, Mexico still has three Candidate Host Cities: Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. From the United States, the following cities are still candidates: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Washington, DC.

The selection process for the final host cities is still in progress. After virtual sessions – due to the current pandemic – physical FIFA visits to the potential host cities are scheduled again in the autumn of 2021: from September to November. The World Football Association wants to decide on the allocation by the end of the second quarter of 2022 at the latest. In total, there will be sixteen hosts at the time of the global finals in 2026: possibly two in Canada, three in Mexico and eleven in the United States.

2026 World Cup cities

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has a record number of 48 participating countries. They play a total of 80 matches. The qualifiers in the six FIFA continents CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, UEFA and OFC will start in 2023. The draw for the 2026 qualifiers is likely to be in July of that year. The qualifying series of the 23rd FIFA World Cup ends in 2025. Montreal will not be part of the final round, unlike many of the other 2026 World Cup candidate cities. Click for the characteristics of these football cities, awaiting the final allocation decision.


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FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIcation

World Cup Football Qualifiers North America, Central America, Caribbean

Qualification North America, Central America, Caribbean

In North America, Central America and the Caribbean, the FIFA qualifiers run from March 18, 2024 to November 18, 2025. Six, seven or eight of the 32 participating CONCACAF nations qualify, joining hosts USA, Canada and Mexico.

World Cup Football Qualifiers South America

FIFA World Cup football Qualification South America

In South America, the FIFA World Cup qualifiers run from September 7, 2023 to September 9, 2025. A total of 10 CONMEBOL nations participate. Six to seven South American countries will qualify. There is one single round.

World Cup Football Qualifiers Europe

FIFA World Cup football qualification Europe

In Europe, the qualifiers run from March 17, 2025 to March 31, 2026. A total of 55 (of 54) UEFA nations participate. Sixteen European countries will qualify. There is one group stage (Round 1), followed by the European play-offs.

World Cup Football Qualifiers Asia

FIFA World Cup football Qualification Asia

In Asia, the World Cup qualification runs from October 12, 2023 to November, 2025. A total of 46 AFC nations participate. Eight or nine Asian countries will qualify. There are three qualifying rounds, before the play-offs.

World Cup Football Qualifiers Africa

FIFA World Cup football Qualification Africa

In Africa, the World Cup football qualifiers run from November 13, 2023 to November 18, 2025. A total of 54 CAF nations participate. Nine or ten African countries will qualify. There are two qualification rounds.

World Cup Football Qualifiers Oceania

FIFA World Cup football Qualification Oceania

In Oceania, the FIFA qualifiers for the World Cup football run from September, 2024 to March, 2025. Eleven OFC nations participate. One or two Oceanic countries qualify. There are three qualification rounds.


2026 HOST CITies & STADIUMS

Host Cities USA

The 2026 American Dream: the United States is one of the three hosts of the FIFA World Cup Soccer in North America. The USA is the host country with the most - eleven - host cities.

Host Cities Canada

With Vancouver, and Toronto, Canada has two host cities for the world's football finals in North America in 2026. Get more information about the characteristics of these exciting and diverse, dynamic cities.

Host Cities Mexico

With Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico has three candidate host cities for the World Cup in 2026. Each host with its specific ambience, history, attractions, hotspots and other features.

Stadiums USA

The United States will have eleven stadiums for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Click for more information about these fantastic and modern venues in the USA, and which matches they will host.

Stadiums Canada

During the 2026 World Cup finals, these are the two venues in Canada: BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, and BMO Field in Toronto. Find out more about these attractive Canadian stadiums.

Stadiums Mexico

In Mexico, the FIFA 2026 World Cup will take place in these stadiums: Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the BBVA Bancomer Stadium in Monterrey.