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MetLife Stadium is home to the NFL's New York Jets and New York Giants.
CNN
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The final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, soccer's global governing body announced Sunday.
The tournament, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026 with the opening match in Mexico City at the Estadio Azteca. The final will take place on July 19th.
The schedule will feature 104 games as the tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 national teams.
“From the opening match at the legendary Estadio Azteca to the spectacular finale in New York, New Jersey, players and fans have been at the heart of our extensive planning for this groundbreaking tournament,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
According to the facility's website, MetLife Stadium can accommodate up to 82,500 fans. Last year, Arsenal and Manchester United played a preseason game there in front of a record football crowd of 82,262 spectators.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a self-confessed lifelong soccer fan, said he was thrilled the final was coming to his state.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our entire region; “Hosting the finals provides NYNJ with an unprecedented platform to brilliantly showcase what we stand for – diversity, equity, access and inclusion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Canada will host its first men's FIFA World Cup match on June 12, 2026 in Toronto at BMO Field, with the Canadian team taking on a yet-to-be-named opponent.
While the host nations will automatically be included in the final round, the remaining 45 places will not be determined until March 2025 at the earliest.
The first game on US soil will be played on June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The greater Los Angeles area has already hosted three World Cup finals in the men's and women's tournaments in 1994, 1999 and 2003.
Mexico and Canada will play their group stage games on home soil, while the U.S. team will play each of its group stage games on the West Coast in Los Angeles and Seattle.
Arlington, near Dallas, and Atlanta will be the venues for the two semifinal games. Both stadiums have roofs that can be open or closed.
A quarterfinal game will each be played in the greater Boston area, Los Angeles, Miami and Kansas City, Missouri. The third-place game will be played the day before the final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
This is the first time that the World Cup will be hosted by three nations. The full list of 16 venues was announced in June.
FIFA said in a press release announcing the match dates: “The innovative schedule ensures that teams observe three days of rest for 103 of the 104 matches in the tournament.” Most of the matches are scheduled to take place in three regionalized zones (East, Central and West) to reduce travel for teams and fans.”
Mexico City hosted the World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986. The Estadio Azteca, which is due to undergo some renovations before 2026, will be the first stadium to host a third opening game of the finals.
CNN's Steve Almasy and Michelle Watson contributed to this report.
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