FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule, Tickets & Hotels

The schedule for the 2026 World Cup is indeed very ambitious, and the arrangements for each city are quite elaborate. This tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 16 cities participating and a total of 104 matches.

The density and prestige of matches vary from city to city. Generally speaking, US cities have more matches than Mexican and Canadian cities.

2026 World Cup Core Match Schedule

👉🏻 View official schedule: FIFA World Cup 26 Match Schedule

FIFA World Cup Time Zone Guide

FIFA schedules matches primarily across the following four regular time slots:

Key Match Times (United States)

• Opening Match (Mexico City): June 11 @ 3:00 PM ET (Mexico vs. South Africa)
• USMNT Opening Match: June 12 @ 9:00 PM ET (USA vs. Paraguay, at SoFi Stadium, LA)
• The World Cup Final: July 19 @ 3:00 PM ET (MetLife Stadium, NJ)

How to Get FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets?

FIFA.com/tickets is the only official ticketing platform.

⚠️ Be wary of resale websites. FIFA has a very strict invalidation mechanism for tickets resold through unofficial channels.

Now you need to register a FIFA ID on the official website. You will receive an email notification as soon as new ticket windows open!

Ticket Types (Helping You Choose the Right Tickets)

Tourists are usually most concerned about ticket prices and views. Here are some ticket types to consider:

• Individual Match Tickets (IMTs): Single match tickets.
• Venue-Specific Ticket Series (VSTs): Stadium-specific ticket series. For example, if you live in Los Angeles, this series allows you to watch all games hosted by SoFi Stadium. This is the most cost-effective option for tourists, saving them the hassle of cross-city travel.
• Team-Specific Ticket Series (TSTs): Tickets that follow a specific team. If your team advances, your ticket automatically becomes valid; if they are eliminated, the remaining ticket becomes a general admission ticket.
• Hospitality Packages: These are not regular tickets, but high-end box tickets that include dining and a VIP lounge.

Estimated Ticket Price

Based on current information and past experience:

• Low-priced tickets: The cheapest Category 4 tickets for the group stage (usually reserved for residents of the host country) will likely be around $60-$80.
• Regular tickets: Category 2 or 3 tickets available to tourists are typically between $150-$400.
• Finals: Ticket prices will likely start at over $1000.

Where Will FIFA World Cup 2026 Matches Be Played? 16 Cities

FIFA divides the 16 cities into three regions: West, Central, and East, to reduce travel distances. You can categorize them as follows:

West Region: 5 cities

Vancouver (BC Place), Seattle (Lumen Field), San Francisco Bay Area (Levi's Stadium), Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), Guadalajara (Estadio Akron).

Features: Pacific coast, beautiful scenery, time difference is more friendly to Asian viewers.

Central Region: 6 cities

Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium), Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Houston (NRG Stadium), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Monterrey (Estadio BBVA), Mexico City (Estadio Azteca).

Features: Extremely strong football atmosphere. Dallas is the "super hub" with the most matches in this tournament.

East Region: 5 cities

Toronto (BMO Field), Boston (Gillette Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Miami (Hard Rock Stadium), New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium).

Features: Location of the finals; relatively close to Europe and Africa; extremely convenient transportation.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Key Venues

You might also be interested in which of the "highlight matches" will be held.

Opening Match - Mexico City, Estadio Azteca

The first stadium in history to host the World Cup opening ceremony three times. Both Pelé and Maradona were crowned champions here, making it a football legend.

Final Match - New York/New Jersey, MetLife Stadium

Located in the heart of the East Coast, with a capacity of 82,500, it will host the epic final on July 19, 2026.

Most Matches Hosted - Dallas, AT&T Stadium

Hosted the most matches, including one semi-final. It is currently one of the most advanced and largest indoor stadiums in the world.

Metlife Stadium | Credit: KGET.com

✨ Tips before your FIFA World Cup tour

• The climate in North America varies greatly in June and July. Miami and Houston are hot and humid, Mexico City suffers from altitude sickness, and Vancouver is cool.
• San Francisco (Santa Clara), Boston (Foxborough), and New York (East Rutherford). These venues are not actually in the city center, and the drive usually takes 45-90 minutes. Don't just look at the city center when planning your accommodation.
• The choice of region (West/Central/East) is very important. Try to stay within the same region.

Where to Stay for World Cup 2026?

Prioritize locations near "public transportation hubs" rather than "near stadiums". Road closures are severe on match days, resulting in the most outrageous price premiums (potentially 5-10 times the usual rate), and the area outside the stadium is usually quite desolate.

I have compiled a list of three representative hotels in the three host cities of the World Cup (Dallas, New York, and Los Angeles) with different positioning.

Dallas (TX) – The city with the most games

Stadium: Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), located in Arlington.

• Loews Arlington Hotel: Brand new and luxurious, right next to the stadium, with panoramic views of the stadium from the windows.
• Hilton Garden Inn DFW Airport South: Offers airport shuttle service, and is within a 20-minute drive of Arlington Stadium.
• Westin Dallas Downtown: Located in the city center, ideal for those who want to explore Dallas and visit Fan Fest.

New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ) – Location of the Finals

Stadium: New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).

• Embassy Suites by Hilton Manhattan Times Square: Located in Times Square, offering the best atmosphere for first-time visitors to New York.
• Hampton Inn Carlstadt: Just a few minutes' drive from the stadium, one of the most time-efficient options.
• Hyatt Regency Jersey City: Located on the Hudson River, conveniently located by the PATH train to New York City and also a short distance from the stadium by light rail.

Los Angeles, CA – A major city in the West

Stadium: Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), located in Inglewood.

• The Huntley Hotel Santa Monica Beach: Many tourists choose to stay by the sea and take the official shuttle to the stadium.
• Residence Inn by Marriott LAX/Century Blvd: Spacious, with the best reviews from families on Trip.com.
• Best Western Airpark Hotel: Very close to the stadium, suitable for those who just want to watch the game and don't plan on extensive sightseeing.