FIFA World Cup: New Jersey will host the final of the World Cup 2026, the tournament will start with the match in Mexico.
FIFA announced on Sunday that the 2026 Football World Cup final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. The tournament will begin on June 11 with matches at the prestigious Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and the title match will be played on July 19. New York received a strong challenge from Dallas to host the final match. FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played between 48 teams. The United States, Canada and Mexico are the co-hosts of the tournament.
What did the FIFA president say?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, ‘The most inclusive and impactful FIFA World Cup ever is no longer a dream but a reality, taking shape with 104 matches in 16 state-of-the-art stadiums in Canada, Mexico and the United States. From the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca to the spectacular final in New York, New Jersey, the players and fans have been at the heart of our planning for this game-changing tournament. This tournament will not only set new records but will also leave an indelible mark in the minds of people.
Semi-final and quarter-final matches will be held here
Atlanta and Dallas will host the semifinals, while the third-place match will be played in Miami. The quarterfinal matches will be held in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston. A total of 16 cities from the three countries will host the Games, with the majority of matches being held in the USA. The 1994 World Cup was also held in the United States and the final was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, near Los Angeles.
MetLife Stadium was inaugurated in 2010
New York hosted games in that tournament at the old Giants Stadium, which was later demolished to make way for MetLife Stadium. MetLife Stadium was inaugurated in 2010. The decisions were announced on a live TV show in North America in which Infantino was joined by comedian and actor Kevin Hart, rapper Drake and celebrity Kim Kardashian.
82,500 spectators can sit in the stadium
The 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from New York, is the home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, but has hosted numerous international soccer games, including the final of the 2016 Copa America tournament. In its argument regarding hosting, New York had said that there are all the facilities for accommodation along with easy transportation system for the fans. At the same time, Azteca will become the first stadium since 1970 and 1986 to host World Cup tournament games in three different editions. The tournament hosted the finals of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments. The World Cup will take place during the celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
