Philadelphia, Pa. – The countdown is on. With one year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, countdown clocks were unveiled in the 16 host cities, starting at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. This historic venue will make its mark as the first stadium to host three opening matches in World Cup history.
Although Washington D.C. and Ottawa did not make the cut, there’s plenty to celebrate in Philadelphia, which coincides with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The city, known for its famed lineage, will also serve as a notable host for the Club World Cup happening this Saturday, ensuring that its infrastructure is primed for future large-scale events.
“We are prepared, and the eyes of the world will be on our great city as the FIFA World Cup matches officially begin,” commented Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. “This is more than just a sporting event; it’s a transformative moment that embodies everything that we are striving for here in Philadelphia – a safer, greener city opened to opportunities for all.”
As the tournament takes shape, here’s what to watch for:
Key dates
- June 11, 2025: 1 year out
- Sept. 2025: CONMEBOL qualifying ends
- Nov. 2025: CAF, AFC, UEFA, Concacaf qualifying ends
- Dec. 2025: World Cup draw
- March 2026: World Cup & UEFA qualifying playoffs
- March 3, 2026: 100 days out
- April 22, 2026: 50 days out
- May 11, 2026: 1 month out
Host cities and stadiums
East region
- Toronto, Canada – BMO Field
- Boston, Massachusetts – Gillette Stadium
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Lincoln Financial Field
- Miami, Florida – Hard Rock Stadium
- New York/New Jersey – MetLife Stadium
Central region
- Dallas, Texas – AT&T Stadium
- Atlanta, Georgia – Mercedes Benz Stadium
- Kansas City, Missouri – Arrowhead Stadium
- Houston, Texas – NRG Stadium
- Monterrey, Mexico – Estadio BBVA
- Mexico City, Mexico – Estadio Azteca
West region
- Vancouver, Canada – BC Place
- Seattle, Washington – Lumen Field
- Los Angeles, California – SoFi Stadium
- San Francisco, California – Levi’s Stadium
- Guadalajara, Mexico – Estadio Akron
As excitement continues to build, here’s a quick look at the match schedule for the host nations:
Matches for host nations
USMNT: Group D Matches
- June 12: Los Angeles
- June 19: Seattle
- June 25: Los Angeles
Mexico: Group A Matches
- June 11: Mexico City
- June 18: Mexico City
- June 24: Guadalajara
Canada: Group B matches
- June 12: Toronto
- June 18: Vancouver
- June 24: Vancouver
Knockout stage schedule
- June 28-July 3: Round of 32
- July 4-7: Round of 16
- July 9-11: Quarterfinals
- July 14-15: Semifinals
- July 18: Third-place match
- July 19: Final
