The 2026 World Cup is expected to be an event like no other.
Held across North America joint hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first 48-man tournament in the event’s history.
With such a highly-anticipated tournament just four years away, fans are hoping to learn all they can about where and when each milestone event of the competition will take place. The central moment of the tournament will be the 2026 World Cup final, which will captivate audiences both in the United States and around the globe.
The Sporting News brings you all the latest information available regarding the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
MORE: All venues selected to host matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Where is the 2026 World Cup final?
It’s currently unknown where the 2026 World Cup final will be held. FIFA announced on July 18 what venues would host matches for the tournament, but the specific matches assigned to those stadiums have not yet been officially determined.
However, there are thought to be a few stadiums still in contention to host the massive event.
One famous stadium that will not host the 2026 World Cup final is Estadio Azteca. FIFA announced that all matches in the knockout stage will be hosted in the United States, meaning the Mexico City stadium that has hosted two previous World Cup finals will not be in contention for selection.
Another iconic venue not open for selection is the Rose Bowl, which was left off the final list of venues altogether, meaning it will not host any matches this World Cup. The massive Los Angeles stadium hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Italy, but was overshadowed by the brand new SoFi Stadium in the selection process.
What stadiums are in contention for the 2026 World Cup final?
It is thought there are three stadiums in the running for selection to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, according to reports over the past few months.
SoFi Stadium
- SoFi Stadium Location: Inglewood, California (Los Angeles market)
- Opened: 2020
- Capacity: 70,240
- Regular tenant: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers
It was a surprise when the brand new SoFi Stadium was selected by FIFA to host matches, earning the honor over its more historically acclaimed neighbor the Rose Bowl.
Built just a few years ago, SoFi Stadium is one of the modern stadium marvels. A stunning multi-billion dollar structure, the sparkling new venue meant to house the pair of NFL franchises in Los Angeles is fit for a king. The centerpiece of the city’s successful 2028 Olympics bid, and its selection over the nearby Rose Bowl speaks volumes of its worthiness.
With the Rose Bowl out, SoFi Stadium was immediately considered a contender to host the World Cup final. However, there are concerns over the stadium’s field size, with very little room to extend the American football field beyond its 300ft length and 160ft width to the 345ft length and 223ft width recommended by FIFA for a pitch. While it has earned the right to host matches, the difficulties with configuration could prove problematic in a bid for the tournament’s crowning match.
MetLife Stadium
- Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City market)
- Opened: 2010
- Capacity: 82,500
- Regular tenant: New York Giants, New York Jets
Unlike SoFi Stadium, MetLife Stadium is hardly a stunning sight to behold, nor does it provide a high-quality fan experience, looking more like a metal cage than anything else. But FIFA can’t turn New York down, and while MetLife isn’t exactly in the heart of the city, it’s close enough.
According to independent journalist Grant Wahl in the run-up to the venue selection announcement in June, 2022, MetLife was expected to be the host for the 2026 World Cup final. Since that report, it’s been expected to host the match, although later reports have challenged MetLife’s pedestal.
AT&T Stadium
- Location: Arlington, Texas (Dallas market)
- Opened: 2009
- Capacity: 80,000 (expandable to 105,000)
- Regular tenant: Dallas Cowboys
One of the most impressive and visually stunning stadiums in the United States, not to mention one of the largest, this venue’s inclusion was a must-have for FIFA and a no-brainer to get World Cup matches. However, its inclusion amongst the favorites to host the final was a surprise.
In September 2022, ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez shared a report by his ESPN colleague John Sutcliffe stating that the Dallas stadium would be hosting the World Cup final.
That report is premature, according to those in charge of the Dallas bid, but they’re still hopeful of selection. “We believe that Dallas is the perfect host for the 2026 World Cup,” said Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul in the wake of ESPN’s report. “FIFA has been an incredible partner every step of the bid process, and we expect a host city announcement in 2023. We’re thrilled that soccer fans across the world are eagerly awaiting word from FIFA.”
It would be a worthy venue. The retractable roof helps stave off the Texas heat, and the U.S. has history in the stadium as well. Dallas is a great market, and the stadium has hosted countless major events across all sports.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The official dates for the 2026 World Cup are unknown, but there are early reports for this as well.
A quick Google search displays a World Cup timeframe of Monday, June 8 — Friday, July 3, although it’s unclear where that information is sourced from. Those dates are also reflected on the right-hand Wikipedia snapshot panel, although a closer look at the Wikipedia page for the 2026 World Cup shows that no dates are reflected, so again it’s unclear where Google is obtaining those dates.
That would suggest that the World Cup final takes place on Friday, July 3, 2026. That would be a break from the norm, as the World Cup final has historically been held on a Sunday.
Past World Cup final venues
Hosting a World Cup final has been a prestigious honor bestowed upon some of the most famous venues across the globe.
Only two stadiums have ever hosted multiple World Cup finals, with Estadio Azteca in Mexico becoming the first, followed by the Maracana Stadium in Brazil.
The highest attendance ever for a World Cup final was 173,850 at the 1950 event. This will likely never be bested for stadiums as we know them, as modern safety protocols and ticketing procedures will prevent such a number from ever seeing a football match in person.
* Attendance figures via Wikipedia
| Year | Final Venue | Final Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Estadio Centenario | Monteviedo, Uruguay | 68,346 |
| 1934 | Stadio Nazionale | Rome, Italy | 55,000 |
| 1938 | Stade Olympique | Colombes, France | 45,000 |
| 1950 | Maracana Stadium | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 173,850 |
| 1954 | Wankdorf Stadium | Bern, Switzerland | 62,500 |
| 1958 | Rasunda Stadium | Solna, Sweden | 51,800 |
| 1962 | Estadio Nacional | Santiago, Chile | 69,000 |
| 1966 | Wembley Stadium | London, England | 96,924 |
| 1970 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 107,412 |
| 1974 | Olympiastadion | Munich, West Germany | 75,200 |
| 1978 | Estadio Monumental | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 71,483 |
| 1982 | Santiago Bernabeu | Madrid, Spain | 90,000 |
| 1986 | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City, Mexico | 114,600 |
| 1990 | Stadio Olimpico | Rome, Italy | 73,603 |
| 1994 | Rose Bowl | Pasadena, United States | 94,194 |
| 1998 | Stade de France | Saint-Denis, France | 75,000 |
| 2002 | International Stadium | Yokohama, Japan | 69,029 |
| 2006 | Olympiastadion | Berlin, Germany | 69,000 |
| 2010 | Soccer City | Johannesburg, South Africa | 84,490 |
| 2014 | Maracana Stadium | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 74,738 |
| 2018 | Luzhniki Stadium | Moscow, Russia | 78,011 |
| 2022 | Lusail Iconic Stadium | Doha, Qatar | — |
| 2026 | TBD | TBC | — |