Story perspectives

North America Hosts 2026 World Cup, MetLife Final

6/10/2026

Summary

World Cup Launches

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens June 11 in Mexico City, jointly hosted by U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Forty-eight teams play in 12 groups, with the top two and eight best third-placed teams moving to a round of 32.
Sixteen stadiums host 104 matches, with U.S. holding 78 and the final for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
The champion earns $50 million while tickets range $160-$170 to $10,990, sparking criticism.

Summary

Shakira Headlines

Shakira and Burna Boy will headline Mexico City’s opening ceremony, debuting the anthem “Dai Dai.”
Italian producer Marco Balich is directing the three ceremonies.
The renovated Estadio Azteca, rebuilt for about 3.6 billion pesos (€160 million), will host its third World Cup opener.
Toronto’s BMO Field will present Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, Alanis Morissette and Elyanna.
ITV and BBC will air all ceremonies in the UK while U.S. viewers can stream via Peacock.

History

Historical Context

After FIFA split the 2002 World Cup between Japan and South Korea—the first ever co-hosted tournament and the inaugural World Cup in Asia—its $1.3 billion economic impact proved joint venues could succeed. That precedent paved the way for the 2026 edition, which will be shared by the United States, Canada and Mexico, extending the collaborative model to three North-American nations.

1 of 3

World Cup Launches

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens June 11 in Mexico City, jointly hosted by U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Forty-eight teams play in 12 groups, with the top two and eight best third-placed teams moving to a round of 32.
Sixteen stadiums host 104 matches, with U.S. holding 78 and the final for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.
The champion earns $50 million while tickets range $160-$170 to $10,990, sparking criticism.

1 / 3