Fifa World Cup 2026 Locations Confirmed: Full City Schedule and Opening Match Venues

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Selecting the World Cup final location triggered an intense, multi-city bidding battle. AT&T Stadium in Dallas made an aggressive pitch backed by municipal authorities, pointing to its 90,000-plus expandable indoor capacity and climate-controlled dome. Yet FIFA awarded the July 19 final to MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.

MetLife Stadium’s proximity to international broadcast centers, Manhattan’s hospitality hub, and European broadcast time slots tipped the balance. Converting the stadium from its synthetic NFL turf to a natural grass pitch required an engineered sub-surface aeration and irrigation tray system. Over 1,700 seats were removed from the lower bowl corners to establish the 105-by-68-meter playing boundary demanded by FIFA regulations.

Dallas did not walk away empty-handed. FIFA selected AT&T Stadium to host nine matches, the highest total of any single venue in the tournament, including a semifinal fixture. The second semifinal went to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, completing an East-Central spine for the penultimate knockout phase.