In the 2025 federal budget unveiled on Monday, the US Secret Service has been earmarked $16 million to initiate security measures for the 2026 World Cup.
The budget details $2.9 billion for the Secret Service to cover protective and investigative duties. Included in this allocation is $70 million for the 2024 Presidential Campaign and inauguration security, and $16 million designated for early World Cup security planning, though the specifics of the expenditure are not disclosed.
The grand finale of the 2026 World Cup is set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The stadium, a $1.6 billion establishment that opened its doors in 2010, will host the final game of the first-ever 48-nation, 104-match tournament to be held across three countries.
Situated roughly 10 miles from Manhattan, MetLife Stadium, nestled in the Meadowlands marshes, was jointly promoted by New York and New Jersey. It will become the center of global attention on July 19, potentially witnessing Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, vying for a consecutive title, or the rise of a new champion.
FIFA’s announcement last month in a Miami TV studio scheduled the tournament’s opening match at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on June 11, with the closing match at the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants’ home ground.
Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, had campaigned for the final to be held at his AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, citing the challenge of competing with the allure of coastal cities like New York or Los Angeles on an international stage.
The US will host all matches from the quarterfinals onwards. The semifinals are slated for July 14 at AT&T and July 15 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Quarterfinals will take place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on July 9, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on July 10, and at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on July 11. The third-place match is scheduled for Hard Rock Stadium on July 18.
The US national team will set up their pre-tournament training camp in suburban Atlanta and kick off their campaign at SoFi Stadium on June 12. They will then play at Seattle’s Lumen Field on June 19 and conclude the group stage at SoFi Stadium on June 25.
The US has had a modest World Cup history, reaching the semifinals in the inaugural 1930 tournament and the quarterfinals in 2002. Coach Gregg Berhalter emphasizes the importance of making the nation proud and potentially changing the landscape of soccer in America with a historic performance.
The US will host 78 of the 104 matches, with Mexico and Canada hosting 13 each. The tournament will feature up to six matches daily.
AT&T Stadium is set to host the most matches, with nine games. MetLife, SoFi, and Mercedes Benz will each host eight matches; Hard Rock, Gillette Stadium, and NRG Stadium in Houston will each see seven matches; and Lumen, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Arrowhead Stadium, and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, will each have six matches.
FIFA has not publicly detailed the criteria for their venue selection.
Philadelphia will host its final match on July 4, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The city’s Citizens Bank Park is also set to host baseball’s All-Star Game on July 14.
Santa Clara stands out as the only US location not to host a match beyond the round of 32. AT&T Stadium will host two round-of-32 matches.
FIFA’s expansion of the World Cup to include 48 nations and 104 matches was announced in 2022, along with the selection of the 16 host sites.
Upon discovering the decision during a MetLife Stadium suite watch party, Murphy remained undeterred despite a British tabloid’s January 17 report claiming the final would be held at AT&T Stadium.
Upon discovering the decision during a MetLife Stadium suite watch party, Murphy remained undeterred despite a British tabloid’s January 17 report claiming the final would be held at AT&T Stadium.
Murphy expressed, “We did everything possible to concentrate on the task at hand, ignoring distractions, and that proved to be a successful strategy.”
Mexico’s second match will be at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on June 18, with a return to Estadio Azteca on June 24. Mexico City is set to host five matches, while Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA and Guadalajara will each host four.
Canada’s national team will commence their opening round in Toronto on June 12, followed by matches at B.C. Place in Vancouver on June 18 and 24. Each Canadian venue is scheduled to host 13 games.
To claim the title, a nation will need to compete in eight matches, an increase from the seven required since 1982.
All 11 US venues are NFL team homes. The Hard Rock Stadium is slated to host the Copa América final on July 14, while MetLife Stadium was the location for the 2016 Copa América final.
The Estadio Azteca has the distinction of hosting both the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals.
During the 1994 World Cup hosted by the US, which featured 24 nations and 52 games, the final took place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, with the opening match at Chicago’s Soldier Field and the semifinals at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford and the Rose Bowl.
With the expansion to more teams, the tournament duration will extend beyond the 29 days of the 2022 schedule in Qatar and the 32 days of the 2018 tournament in Russia.
FIFA has structured the group stage into East, Central, and West regions to minimize travel for group winners, ensuring only one match involves a team with less than three rest days.
Stadiums in Arlington, Atlanta, and Houston, equipped with retractable roofs, are anticipated to remain closed due to summer heat, while Inglewood and Vancouver feature fixed roofs.
Artificial turf will be replaced with grass at the stadiums in Arlington, Atlanta, East Rutherford, Foxborough, Houston, Inglewood, Seattle, and Vancouver.
To accommodate a standard 75-by-115 yard (68-by-105 meter) playing field, several venues, including AT&T, MetLife, and SoFi Stadiums, are expected to expand their surfaces.