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The United States, Mexico and Canada won the hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup, which will bring soccer’s most prestigious event to three countries for the first time. The bid from the North American nations, dubbed the “United Bid,” beat out Morocco in a vote held by FIFA Congress on Wednesday.
A total of 80 games will be held as a part of the World Cup, 60 of which will take place in the United States (possibly in places including Miami and Los Angeles). Most interesting for New Yorkers is the location of the final championship match: It’s slated to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which will have a capacity of more than 87,000 for the event. Unlike this year, the United States will automatically qualify for the World Cup as a host country. But New Yorkers shouldn't get their hopes too high to see the red, white and blue take the field across the Hudson River. The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team has never made it past the semifinals in the tournament, and that was during its first appearance way back in 1930.
Still, the location of the final in 2026 is fitting for the World Cup, which promotes collaboration within the international community as much as it does the “beautiful game.” Holding the pinnacle match of the tournament just a short bus ride from New York (one of the most diverse cities in the country) and Jersey City (the most ethnically diverse city in the country) is a match made in soccer heaven.
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