USA Host Cities Guide — 2026 World Cup
All 11 American Stadiums, 78 Matches, and Travel Tips
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The USA hosts 11 cities and 78 of the 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup, including the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. The 11 host cities are: East Rutherford NJ, Dallas TX, Los Angeles CA, Miami FL, Atlanta GA, Houston TX, Philadelphia PA, Seattle WA, Kansas City MO, San Francisco CA, Boston MA. Combined stadium capacity: ~780,000 seats. Eight of the 11 stadiums are NFL home venues. Largest: MetLife (82,500). Smallest: SoFi Stadium LA (70,240, expandable to 100,000 for special events).
All 11 USA Host Cities at a Glance
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Matches | Notable Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Rutherford, NJ | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | 8 | FINAL (Jul 19) |
| Dallas, TX | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 | 9 | Semi-Final |
| Atlanta, GA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 | 8 | Semi-Final |
| Los Angeles, CA | SoFi Stadium | 70,240 | 8 | Quarter-Final |
| Boston, MA | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 | 7 | Quarter-Final |
| Miami, FL | Hard Rock Stadium | 64,767 | 7 | Quarter-Final |
| Houston, TX | NRG Stadium | 72,220 | 7 | Round of 16 |
| Kansas City, MO | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 | 6 | Round of 32 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,176 | 6 | Round of 16 |
| Seattle, WA | Lumen Field | 68,740 | 6 | Round of 16 |
| San Francisco, CA | Levi's Stadium | 68,500 | 6 | Round of 32 |
East Rutherford, NJ — MetLife Stadium (THE FINAL)
MetLife Stadium hosts the 2026 World Cup Final on Sunday, July 19. Built in 2010 for $1.6 billion, it is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets. With a capacity of 82,500, it is the largest US World Cup venue. Location: 8 km west of Manhattan. Public transit: NJ Transit Meadowlands Rail Line from Penn Station NYC (~30 min). Nearest airport: Newark Liberty (EWR), 20 km. Hotel options: Cheaper in NJ (Secaucus, East Rutherford), pricier in Manhattan but better nightlife.
Dallas, TX — AT&T Stadium ("Jerry World")
AT&T Stadium ($1.3 billion to build, opened 2009) hosts 9 matches, the most of any US venue, including a semi-final. Famous for its retractable roof and the world's largest center-hung video board (60 yards long). Capacity 80,000 (expandable to 100,000+). Home of the Dallas Cowboys. Location: Arlington TX, 30 km from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW), 25 km from downtown Dallas.
Los Angeles, CA — SoFi Stadium
SoFi Stadium is the most expensive sports venue ever built ($5.5 billion, opened 2020). Hosts 8 matches including a quarter-final. Capacity 70,240 (expandable for FIFA). Home of the LA Rams and LA Chargers. Location: Inglewood, 5 km from LAX airport. The stadium is known for its translucent ETFE roof and the “Infinity Screen” (the world's largest LED video board, 360-degree).
Miami, FL — Hard Rock Stadium
Hard Rock Stadium hosts 7 matches including a quarter-final. Home of the Miami Dolphins and host of multiple Super Bowls and Formula 1 Miami GP. Capacity 64,767. Location: Miami Gardens, 25 km north of South Beach. The Miami area offers tropical weather, beaches, and a strong Latin American fan base — expect electric atmospheres for Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia matches.
Atlanta, GA — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts 8 matches including a semi-final. Opened 2017 for $1.6 billion. Capacity 71,000. Home of the Atlanta Falcons and MLS champion Atlanta United. Notable feature: A retractable “pinwheel” roof that opens like a camera aperture, plus a 1,100-foot circular halo video board. Atlanta is a major MLS soccer market with passionate fans.
Other 6 USA Host Cities (Briefly)
- Houston, TX (NRG Stadium, 72,220): Retractable roof, home of Houston Texans NFL
- Philadelphia, PA (Lincoln Financial Field, 69,176): Home of Philadelphia Eagles NFL, near Independence Hall
- Seattle, WA (Lumen Field, 68,740): Home of Seattle Sounders MLS (loudest US soccer atmosphere) and Seahawks NFL
- Kansas City, MO (Arrowhead Stadium, 76,416): Home of Kansas City Chiefs NFL, BBQ capital of USA
- San Francisco, CA (Levi's Stadium, 68,500): Home of San Francisco 49ers NFL, located in Santa Clara (50 km south of SF)
- Boston, MA (Gillette Stadium, 65,878): Home of New England Patriots NFL, located in Foxborough (45 km south of Boston)
Travel Tips for USA Host Cities
- Book flights NOW: airfares will spike 30-50% as kickoff approaches. Domestic US flights between host cities can cost $200-600+ during World Cup.
- Hotels: Prices in Dallas, Miami, LA, NJ, and Boston already up 200%. Consider Airbnb or hotels in suburbs (e.g., Newark instead of Manhattan).
- Rental cars: Expect shortages and 3x normal prices in host cities. Reserve 6+ months in advance.
- Public transit: NYC, Boston, SF, Philadelphia, and Seattle have excellent transit. Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Miami, LA require car rental or Uber.
- Cash and cards: Most US venues are cashless. Bring contactless credit cards or use Apple Pay/Google Pay.
- Tipping: 18-20% in restaurants, $2-5 for taxi/Uber drivers, $1-2 per drink at bars. Failure to tip is considered rude.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which US cities are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
11 US cities will host 2026 World Cup matches: East Rutherford NJ (MetLife Stadium, final), Dallas TX (AT&T Stadium), Los Angeles CA (SoFi Stadium), Miami FL (Hard Rock Stadium), Atlanta GA (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Houston TX (NRG Stadium), Philadelphia PA (Lincoln Financial Field), Seattle WA (Lumen Field), Kansas City MO (Arrowhead Stadium), San Francisco CA (Levi's Stadium), and Boston MA (Gillette Stadium). The USA hosts 78 of the tournament's 104 matches.
Where is the 2026 World Cup final?
The 2026 World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, July 19, 2026. MetLife Stadium has a capacity of 82,500 and is the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets (NFL). It is located 8 km west of Manhattan and is accessible via the Meadowlands Rail Line train (NJ Transit) from Penn Station. This will be the first World Cup final in the USA since 1994.
How many matches does each US host city get?
Match distribution: MetLife (NJ) hosts 8 matches including the final. Dallas hosts 9 matches including a semi-final. Atlanta hosts 8 matches. Los Angeles hosts 8 matches including a quarter-final. Miami hosts 7 matches. Houston hosts 7 matches. Philadelphia hosts 6 matches. Seattle hosts 6 matches. Boston hosts 7 matches. Kansas City hosts 6 matches. San Francisco hosts 6 matches. Total USA: 78 matches.
Is MetLife Stadium near New York City?
MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, about 8 km (5 miles) west of Manhattan. It is technically NOT in New York, but it is accessible from NYC via NJ Transit train (Meadowlands Rail Line from Penn Station, ~30 minutes), Lincoln Tunnel by car (15-25 minutes depending on traffic), or NJ Transit bus 351 from Port Authority. Most international fans flying into Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) can reach the stadium in 20 minutes by car or 35 minutes by train.
Can I drive between US host cities?
Driving between USA host cities is possible for some, but the country is vast — many cities are 1000+ miles apart. Practical driving routes: Boston to NJ (4 hours), NJ to Philadelphia (1.5 hours), Philadelphia to Atlanta (12 hours), Miami to Atlanta (10 hours), Dallas to Houston (4 hours), LA to San Francisco (6 hours). Cross-country (NJ to LA): 40+ hours. For most fans following multiple matches, domestic flights between host cities are essential — book early as airfares will spike during World Cup window.
What's the best US city to visit during the World Cup?
For first-time visitors: Miami offers beaches + nightlife + tropical weather. New York/NJ provides the iconic skyline + diverse culture + the final. Los Angeles delivers Hollywood + perfect weather. For sport-tourists: Dallas (state-of-the-art AT&T Stadium with retractable roof) and Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium with stunning octagonal scoreboard) offer modern stadium experiences. For European fans: Boston feels familiar (oldest US city, walkable) and Philadelphia has historical sites (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall). For affordability: Kansas City and Houston are cheaper than coastal cities.
Do I need a visa to visit the USA for the World Cup?
Visitors from 41 countries (including UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Australia, etc.) can travel to the USA without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). They need an approved ESTA ($21, online, valid 2 years) and a valid biometric passport. Visitors from Mexico (NAFTA partner) need a B1/B2 visa OR can use a passport card for land entry. Brazilian, Argentine, and Chinese visitors must apply for a B1/B2 tourist visa (~$185, in-person interview required). Apply 3-6 months in advance.
How early should I arrive at US World Cup stadiums?
Arrive at US World Cup stadiums at least 3 hours before kickoff. Security screening (similar to airport TSA) will be enhanced for FIFA matches and can take 30-90 minutes. Public transit is recommended over driving — parking at MetLife is $50+ and traffic on game day adds 1-2 hours. FIFA recommends bag-free arrival; only small clear bags (12x6x12 inches) are permitted. Tailgating culture is strong at NFL stadiums (especially Kansas City Arrowhead and Dallas AT&T) but FIFA may restrict pre-match parking lot activities.