The FIFA World Cup returns to North America in 2026, and the stadium map is set. Sixteen venues across the United States, Canada and Mexico will stage the biggest men’s World Cup yet. Before the first whistle, here’s a clear look at the host cities, capacities and a few smart notes for matchday, with Sofascore on hand for live scores and deeper data once the action starts.

Host cities and capacities at a glance

Fans will be spread across three countries and plenty of famous grounds. The largest listed capacity belongs to Dallas at 94,000, with New York/New Jersey at 82,500 and Mexico City at 83,000 close behind. Other US stops include Atlanta 75,000, Kansas City 73,000, Houston 72,000, San Francisco 71,000, Los Angeles 70,000, Seattle 69,000, Philadelphia 69,000, Boston 65,000 and Miami 65,000.

Canada welcomes matches in Toronto 45,000 and Vancouver 54,000. Mexico rounds out the field with Guadalajara 48,000 and Monterrey 53,500 alongside the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It is a spread that mixes NFL-scale arenas with distinctive football homes.

How the map shapes travel

The venue map naturally forms three clusters. The West features Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, keeping some group-stage travel shorter along the Pacific corridor. The Central-South group ties Dallas, Houston and Kansas City with Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City, which should help planning within that zone.

On the Atlantic side, Toronto links to Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Atlanta and Miami. Expect time-zone switches to be mild, but climates will vary. Early-summer humidity in Miami and Houston contrasts with the cooler Pacific Northwest, which could influence tempo and substitutions.

Stadium storylines to watch

Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca is set to become the first venue to host matches in three men’s World Cups, adding another layer to its legend. FIFA has scheduled the final for New York/New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, while Los Angeles, Toronto and Mexico City headline opening-night attention for their host nations. Dallas brings the tournament’s biggest crowd potential, and Atlanta’s retractable roof should keep conditions steady.

Seattle and Philadelphia are known for loud, organized crowds, while Vancouver’s BC Place offers a covered option if weather turns. In Mexico, Monterrey’s modern bowl and Guadalajara’s clean sightlines should make for sharp viewing and quick play.

What it means on the pitch and for fans

Altitude is a real pregame note: Mexico City and Guadalajara sit well above sea level, which can tax pressing teams and favor sides comfortable in controlled phases. Several US venues usually play on turf, but FIFA requires natural grass installation, so ball roll and bounce should be consistent across sites. Heat management in Texas and Florida may drive earlier rotations and water breaks.

For supporters planning matchdays, Sofascore will carry live results, momentum charts, lineups and player pages once the tournament kicks off. You can follow your team, set alerts and check each player’s Sofascore Rating, where 10 is a perfect score. Keep an eye on our venue pages too, where we’ll add kickoff times, travel notes and match-specific data as fixtures approach.