Your ultimate family guide to the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities

It’s been 32 years since a North American country hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup, and this time it’s being shared among the USA, Canada and Mexico. Football fans of a certain age will still wince at the memory of 1986 when Mexico hosted the tournament – thanks to a certain Hand of God. But it’s Canada’s first time as hosts, and the country is looking forward to showing off two of its finest cities, Toronto and Vancouver.

The tournament, which runs from 11 June to 19 July, has ballooned this year to include 48 countries – up from 36 when the tournament took place in Qatar four years ago. That gives even more chances to soak up the atmosphere in any of the 16 host cities as they collectively put on a whopping 104 games.

Early publicity for the tournament got off to a rocky start when it revealed just how expensive the ticket prices were going to be. Indeed, Scotland fans who were looking forward to watching their team in a World Cup final for the first time since 1998 were gutted when they found how many thousands they would have to pay to watch their team in action.

But the beauty of a major international tournament is that everyone wants to put on a party – and that’s what’s going to happen in the host cities. They will all have huge fan zones with big screens and a fun, festival-like atmosphere. While accommodation in the host cities will be tight, it’s worth looking at nearby suburbs and cities and checking out rail or bus links. Make the most of your time in North America and combine several cities and regions in one trip.

We’ve come up with a guide to the three host countries to help you have an unforgettable family holiday.

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BMO Field Toronto Stadium

Canada

Toronto

Toronto, set on Lake Ontario, is Canada’s largest city. You don’t need to have a ticket to any of the six games hosted here, which kicks off on 12 June with the first-ever men’s FIFA World Cup match on Canadian soil. Instead, head to the FIFA Fan Festival at Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway, where you can watch live broadcasts of matches on large screens and enjoy music, art, food and a chance to celebrate with fans from around the world.

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal city where mountains meet the Pacific, combining a strong outdoor culture with a compact downtown, diverse food scene and ready access to beaches, forests and urban parks. Here the fan festival takes place at the renewed PNE Amphitheatre, featuring live match broadcasts, entertainment, cultural programming, interactive activities and diverse food options. Accessible and family-friendly, the festival will welcome thousands of fans.

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Mexico City

Mexico

Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, famous for historic World Cup moments, will stage the opening match and multiple group games before hosting at least one round-of-32 and round-of-16 fixture. This makes it the only stadium to host World Cup matches in three separate tournaments. Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron and Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA will also host several group-stage matches, giving fans a chance to follow the action in different cities while enjoying local culture, food and atmosphere across Mexico during the competition.

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San Francisco

USA

Mid-America

There’s a double dose of Texas during this tournament. Dallas’s AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) hosts nine group matches and a semi-final in the largest stadium among all the World Cup venues. In the south of the state, Houston will put on seven matches in its blissfully air-conditioned stadium. There’s more doubling up in Kansas City, which straddles two state lines – Kansas and Missouri. Kansas City Stadium is officially the loudest in the world, and this soccer-loving city itself will be one big party zone.

North East

All eyes will be on the North East on 19 July when New York New Jersey Stadium hosts the World Cup Final. Soak up the action in New York City at the Telemundo Fan Village at the Rockefeller Center. Boston, whose infamous Tea Party helped to kick off the American Revolution, is hosting seven matches, including two Scotland and one England game. Philadelphia will be putting on six matches – the last on 4 July, of all days. Join the crowds at the Lemon Hill Fan Festival in Fairmont Park.

West Coast

The shiny new Los Angeles SoFi Stadium is the scene of the USA’s first match of the tournament, against Paraguay, along with seven other matches. Fan zones will be scattered all around the city, including Venice Beach and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The San Francisco Bay Area, which also includes Oakland and San Jose, will host six matches at Levi’s Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Seattle will also host six matches in an open-ended stadium that gives fabulous views of the city’s distinctive skyline. Settle in the fan zone that will be set up in the shadow of the Space Needle.