MIAMI, Florida – The 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada have been determined and there is no shortage of iconic Concacaf and international football moments that have taken place in the selected venues.
At the top of the list is the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which has been the site of 19 World Cup matches, including the Finals of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, won by Brazil and Argentina, respectively. The Azteca also bore witness to what is considered the greatest goal in World Cup history, scored by Diego Maradona in Argentina’s 2-1 1986 quarterfinal win versus England.
The Azteca was also the venue for the 1993 and 2003 Concacaf Gold Cup Finals, both won by Mexico, along with the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, which finished with an unforgettable 4-3 Mexico win over Brazil.
There have been a number of memorable Concacaf matches in the famed stadium, especially the 2014-15 and the 2015-16 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Finals involving Club America.
While the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara will host World Cup matches for the first time, a total of 14 World Cup matches have been played in the Mexican city of Guadalajara during the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
However, one of the greatest SCCL matches took place in the Estadio Akron when Chivas faced Toronto FC in the second leg of the 2018 Final. Toronto FC captured a 2-1 win, causing a 3-3 tie on aggregate and forcing a penalty shootout, which was ultimately won by Chivas for the club’s first ever SCCL crown.
Monterrey hosted four matches in the 1986 World Cup, but in 2026, BBVA Stadium will get its first opportunity to do so. The home of Rayados has already witnessed several high-stakes affairs, including the Final of the 2019 and 2021 SCCLs, both won by Monterrey.
BC Place in Vancouver, Canada was the centerpiece of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with nine matches played, including the Final, won 5-2 by the United States versus Japan. It was also where the 2012 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship took place, in addition to various SCCL matches involving the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The second host city in Canada, Toronto, will have matches played at its crown jewel, BMO Field, which was the site for 12 matches at the 2007 FIFA Men’s Under-20 World Cup, two matches in the 2015 Gold Cup and the first leg of that aforementioned 2018 SCCL Final between Toronto FC and Chivas.
Atlanta, Georgia’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the first of 11 U.S. host cities and has already an SCCL match played on its turf, plus the 2019 U.S. Open Cup Final, won by home side Atlanta United.
The San Francisco Bay Area in California hosted five matches at USA 1994 at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, and now Levi’s Stadium will have that same opportunity. The 2017 Gold Cup Final, won 2-1 by the U.S. versus Jamaica, and four matches during the 2016 Copa America Centenario were previously played at Levi’s Stadium.
Gillette Stadium in Boston, Massachusetts is one of the repeat venues, having hosted six matches at USA 1994, including Italy’s 2-1 quarterfinal victory against Spain.
The Gold Cup also has a long history of being played at Gillette Stadium, with 20 matches in total, including three quarterfinals. Three matches in the 2016 Copa America Centenario were also played at the home of MLS side New England Revolution.
AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas opened in 2009 and quickly became a staple of the Gold Cup, hosting matches in the 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2021 editions, with semifinals in 2013 and 2017.
Dallas was also a host city during USA 1994, with six matches played at the famed Cotton Bowl Stadium, including Brazil’s memorable 3-2 quarterfinal win versus the Netherlands.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was not a host city at USA 1994, but the city is well-versed in big matches. Lincoln Financial Field Stadium hosted the 2015 Gold Cup Final between Mexico and Jamaica, in addition to numerous other Gold Cup matches. The 2016 Copa America Centenario also had three matches played at Lincoln Financial Field Stadium.
Fifteen Gold Cup matches have taken place at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, including the semifinals of the 2011 edition and the Mexico-Canada semifinal of 2021. The 2016 Copa America Centenario also ventured to NRG Stadium, notably Argentina’s 4-0 semifinal win over the U.S.
Kansas City, Missouri will have a chance to host its first World Cup matches at Arrowhead Stadium, which hosted matches during the 2005 Concacaf Champions’ Cup. The city of Kansas City has also been the site for various Gold Cup and SCCL matches.
While no matches have been played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California, the area is long renowned for history-making affairs. The 1994 World Cup Final was played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, won by Brazil against Italy in a penalty shootout, giving the stadium eight World Cup matches to its name.
In addition to the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the 1999 Women’s World Cup Final, the Rose Bowl has hosted 25 Gold Cup matches, including in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 90,000 fans in the 2011 Final, won 4-2 by Mexico against the U.S. in which Mexico’s Giovani dos Santos scored what is considered the greatest Gold Cup goal ever.
Miami, Florida will get its first crack at hosting World Cup games at Hard Rock Stadium, but the South Florida city has been the site for 40 Gold Cup matches, the 2016 Copa America Centenario and the preliminary round of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area will see its first World Cup action, but seven matches were played at USA 1994 in the area, among them Italy’s 2-1 semifinal win versus Bulgaria.
MetLife Stadium was also the venue for the 2016 Copa America Centenario Final and has hosted two Gold Cup Finals, in 2005 and 2009.
In addition to previous Gold Cup matches and the 2016 Copa America Centenario, Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington was the venue for the historic 3-0 triumph for the Seattle Sounders over Pumas in the second leg of the 2022 SCCL Final, making Seattle the first team from MLS to win the trophy.
