Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
With 2026 still a couple of years away, fans around the globe are gearing up for what promises to be a monumental event. With Qatar 2022 becoming the first World Cup to be held in the winter, 2026 will be the first time the tournament is split between three host countries. It’s an opportunity to promote football in North America, with the sport growing traction due to new signings in Major League Soccer, the rise of online sports betting and the quality of facilities across the continent.
In this article, we take an early look at what football fans can expect ahead of the 2026 World Cup. In the next two years, new stars could emerge, records could be broken, and new favourites could come to fruition.
Here, we cover everything we know so far, from the hosts to the stadia and everything in between ahead of the world’s most popular football tournament.
For the first time in history, the World Cup will be shared by three nations, with the tournament likely to expand even further in coming years.
Canada, Mexico, and the United States are no strangers to hosting major sporting events, but this joint venture will see the group stages split across three countries, with the final in the United States.
This will be the first time Canada has hosted men's World Cup matches. Mexico adds to its legacy after the legendary 1986 World Cup won by Diego Maradona’s Argentina, and the United States, build on the success of the 1994 World Cup clinched by Brazil.
These host nations will also feature in this summer’s Copa America, which will be played across the USA.
Argentina, the 2022 World Cup champions, will arrive in 2026 with high expectations. Much speculation surrounds whether Lionel Messi, the legendary forward, will still be playing, especially after leaving Europe to trade Paris Saint Germain for Inter Miami last year.
While Messi will be 39 by the time the tournament kicks off, you expect him to play a role in one way or another, having dragged his country to the Qatar throne with big goals in the final against France. His Copa American performances this year for La Albiceleste will be a great judge of if he is up to scratch.
As with any World Cup, as well as this summer’s Euro 2024, the list of early favourites is long and filled with familiar nations.
Brazil, Germany, and France are perennial contenders, each boasting good squad depth as well as a blend of experienced players and emerging stars.
England are one of the favourites to win the Euros this summer, but it will be interesting to see if they head to the 2026 World Cup with Gareth Southgate still in the dugout. Additionally, sides like Belgium and Spain are really in last chance saloon if they want any success with their current crop of star players.
The 2026 World Cup showcases some of the best stadia around the globe, with all three nations familiar with hosting key events on the sporting calendar.
In Canada, cities like Toronto and Vancouver will provide picturesque settings for the matches, while Mexico will showcase its rich heritage in the sport with games in places like Guadalajara and Mexico City, home to the famous Estadio Azteca.
Then there is the ground for the final - MetLife Stadium. Located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will be the grand stage for the World Cup final. With a capacity of over 82,000, it is one of the largest stadiums in the United States and has a history of hosting major events, including the Super Bowl.
It has potential to be one of the highest-viewed sporting events in history, with Messi’s victory in the 2022 Qatar final surpassing 1.5 billion views worldwide.
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Overall, the popularity football across the United States has been on a meteoric rise, with increasing viewership, youth participation, and the success of Major League Soccer (MLS). The country’s diverse population, passion for sports, and infrastructure investment could make for one of the best tournaments in recent years when you also factor in the facilities and hospitality of Canada, and the scenic views and passion for football of Mexico. The beautiful game looks to be in good hands.
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