Host City: New York / New Jersey

The New York / New Jersey area was a hub for the original North American Soccer League (NASL), most famously hosting Pelé and the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, which brought global attention to American soccer. The legacy continued with Major League Soccer’s New York Red Bulls and later New York City FC, both of which have formed passionate fan bases and contributed to the sport’s mainstream rise.

Today, the MetLife Stadium will host five group matches, one Round of 32, one Round of 16, and the final on July 19th, 2026. Opened in 2010, its 82,500 capacity made it the site of 2016’s Copa América Centenario final. It has featured shows by Springsteen, Beyoncé and Swift, and is shared by NFL’s Giants and Jets. In 1994, Giants Stadium’s 1994 semifinal (Italy vs. Bulgaria) captivated 72,350 fans, foreshadowing its 2026 roles.

As home to NYCFC, Red Bulls, USA youth matches, and hosts to major sporting events (US Open tennis, Super Bowl XLVIII), the region’s global finance and media ecosystem provides an unrivaled platform for football’s grandest finale.