The International Federation of Association Football reported that MetLife Stadium (New Jersey) will host the 2026 World Cup final, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Similarly, the final date of the World Cup has been set for Sunday, July 19 after a meeting of the FIFA Council.
🥁 The #FIFAWorldCup trophy will be raised in New York New Jersey!#WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/VIuAvYxOMV
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 4, 2024
"While this stadium has been more used to hosting the superstars of the NFL down the years, the best that soccer has to offer will head to the ground come 2026 as a different sport takes centre stage", explained the FIFA on its official website.
FIFA also recalled that "the 2026 World Cup will the biggest tournament yet in more ways than one. Never before have 48 teams been involved in a single edition, while this is also the first World Cup to be held across three countries."
The FIFA Council also unanimously took the decision to approve the proposed amendment to the group stage format for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 16 groups of three to 12 groups of four. "The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams from the groups will now progress to the round of 32. Hopefuls will now have to play eight games from group stage through to the final, rather than seven," the federation detailed.
