The Locations of the 2026 World Cup
In 2026 the World Cup will head to North America. Played over this vast continent, it will be the first to be held by three nations and includes Canada, the USA and Mexico. With an interest in football increasingly vast in Canada and the US, and Mexico already being a footballing nation, it should be one of the most interesting competitions yet.
Canada
Two Canadian stadiums will be used in the 2026 World Cup: BC Place in Vancouver and BMO Field in Toronto. The former is the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps and is the oldest stadium in the tournament at a spritely 40 years old. The latter is the main base for the Toronto Team and the men’s national teams but has a small capacity of just over 45,000.
Having just two stadiums will be a huge boost for Canadian football and the economy of the country. Unlike the United Kingdom, Canada is just beginning to open up its provinces to the concept of online gambling. This means it could provide an additional boost through taxation. Gamblers over the Atlantic will be more than familiar with the casino online UK phenomenon which has swept the nation, providing both table games and slots which are very often combined with sportsbooks. Large events like this should elevate the industry there.
USA
Football in North America has been increasing in popularity for some time due to investment in the MLS. This has seen improvements in results for the national team in previous competitions. Currently, the squad is not a favourite but is commanding a respectable 33/1 in World Cup betting. This has placed them in the same bracket as traditional strong footballing nations like Croatia at 50/1 and Belgium at 25/1.
The USA has the bulk of the stadiums, with many concentrated in certain states. This makes logistics much easier, for players, organisers and fans. Texas has two stadiums that will be in use. The first is the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, well known as the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Its second is the NRG Stadium, also in Arlington and is the home of the Houston Texans.
On the West Coast, California has the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Los Angeles is the home of the SoFi Stadium and once won stadium of the year. It will open the US team’s first match. Games will also be played in Seattle, Boston, Miami and New Jersey.
Mexico
Mexico has three stadiums that will be used for the 2026 World Cup. Estadio Akron is in Guadalajara and has been used for international games before. Monterrey is another location, which houses Estadio BBVA.
The jewel in the crown of Mexican stadiums is the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It has an impressive pedigree, being the home of the 1970 and 1986 finals. To add to its impressive resume, it has a capacity of 87,523, the highest of any other stadium in the competition.
The success of a competition across three nations will be a benchmark not just for forthcoming football events, but also sport in general. With the Commonwealth Games struggling to find a host, it may show how cross-border events are a possibility and can be a huge success.
