FIFA World Cup 2026 U.S. City Guide: LA, Miami, Atlanta, and Dallas

Quick Facts

• The 2026 FIFA World Cup spans the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches over 39 days.

• The U.S. hosts 78 matches, including every game from the quarterfinal stage onward.

• AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas), hosts the most matches of any venue, with nine total.

• Ticket prices on resale currently start around $400 for group-stage matches and climb to nearly $11,000 for the final.

• The average total cost of attending across all 11 U.S. host cities runs approximately $5,440 per person, covering a ticket, flights, two nights of lodging, food, and transport.

• Hotel prices in North American host cities have increased by an average of 328% compared to rates three weeks earlier.

• FIFA Fan Festivals are confirmed at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta and Bayfront Park in Miami, among other host cities.

Los Angeles — Where Team USA Opens the Tournament Tonight

Southern California is hosting eight matches total, with five group-stage games plus three knockout-round games, all at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which FIFA has renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the tournament. The U.S. Men's National Team opens their World Cup campaign here tonight, June 12, against Paraguay at 6 p.m. PT. It's the first time the USMNT has played a World Cup match on home soil since 1994, and SoFi is the right stage for it.

But the LA schedule doesn't end there. Iran vs. New Zealand is on June 15, Belgium vs. Iran on June 21, and the U.S. returns to Inglewood on June 25 for their third group-stage match against Türkiye. The middle U.S. match, against an opponent TBD, is in Seattle on June 19. The quarterfinal at SoFi follows on July 10, so elite knockout football is coming to Southern California regardless of how the group stage shakes out.

The fan experience extends well beyond the stadium. The FIFA Fan Festival transformed the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum into a global celebration of football and culture, with live match screenings, music, and food reflecting the diversity of LA. General admission is just $10, with kids under 12 free. Official Fan Zones, a mix of free and ticketed watch parties, run at landmarks across the county, including the Original Farmers Market, Venice Beach, Union Station, and Fairplex, with the Getty and the Hammer Museum hosting their own events.

Getting to SoFi without losing your mind requires a plan. Parking at the stadium runs upward of $250. Metro operates direct buses from around 15 rail and bus-connected spots across LA County, and Union Station is the most popular starting point, for just $1.75 each way. Take the bus.

Upcoming LA matches:

• June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand

• June 21: Belgium vs. Iran

• June 25: USA vs. Türkiye

• July 10: Quarterfinal

Atlanta — The World Cup City You Should Prioritize

Atlanta has a compelling pitch: it's one of the most affordable host cities on the list, it has a genuinely spectacular venue, and it's hosting the kind of matches that matter late in the tournament. Mercedes-Benz Stadium hosts eight matches total, including five group-stage games, a Round of 32, a Round of 16, and a Semifinal on July 15. Spain, ranked No. 2 in the world, plays two group-stage matches here: against Cape Verde on June 15 and Saudi Arabia on June 21. DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan follows on June 27 to close out the group stage in Atlanta.

Atlanta is among the least expensive destinations for fans attending the tournament, which is a real thing when you're looking at $5,000-plus trips in other cities. Mercedes-Benz Stadium's retractable roof, cutting-edge technology, and 75,000-seat capacity create an unmatched atmosphere, and the stadium has pledged to keep concession prices low.

The official FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park is free and runs across 18 match days. Atlanta may be known for its traffic, but the Centennial Park District and the Atlanta BeltLine offer pedestrian-friendly corridors where you can walk, skate, or bike from Downtown and Midtown directly to the stadium. MARTA connects the entire metro area, including the airport; the GWCC/CNN Center Station and Vine City Station, both on the Blue/Green Line, drop you right next to the stadium for $2.50. It's the easiest car-free base in the tournament.

Upcoming Atlanta matches:

• June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde

• June 21: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia

• June 27: DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan

• July 7: Round of 16

• July 15: Semifinal

Miami — The Hottest City of the Tournament (in Every Sense)

Miami is hosting seven total games at Hard Rock Stadium: four group-stage matches and three knockout-stage games, including the Bronze Final to determine third place overall. The group-stage slate is stacked with traveling fan bases. Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay is on June 15, Uruguay vs. Cape Verde on June 21, and Colombia vs. Portugal on June 27. That last one will bring enormous crowds from both South American and European supporters.

A word on logistics: the matches are technically in Miami Gardens, not in Miami itself. That matters when you're booking accommodation and figuring out how to get there. There's no direct Metrorail connection to Hard Rock Stadium; Uber and Lyft are the most common options, and you should budget 30 to 45 minutes from South Beach. Shared buses run to the stadium before each match from stops in Miami Beach and Brickell, and back afterward to Downtown Miami and beyond.

The weather is brutal and wonderful in equal measure. Expect daily highs of 89 to 92°F with humidity pushing the feels-like temperature above 100°F. Hard Rock Stadium has a shade canopy but is not air-conditioned. Hydrate early and often. If you can't get a ticket, Miami is one of the best cities in the tournament to watch without one. The official FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami is free to enter, with matches on massive screens and local food and drinks throughout.

Upcoming Miami matches:

• June 15: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

• June 21: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde

• June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal

• July 11: Quarterfinal

• Bronze Final: TBD

Dallas — The Biggest Venue in the Tournament

AT&T Stadium hosts nine matches, more than any other venue, including five group-stage games, two Round of 32 matches, a Round of 16, and a Semifinal on July 14. The group-stage slate is the strongest of any city in this guide. Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador opens things on June 14, followed by England vs. Croatia on June 17, Argentina vs. Austria on June 22, Japan vs. Sweden on June 25, and Jordan vs. Argentina on June 27. Defending champions Argentina appear twice in Dallas. If you want to see Messi, this is where it's happening.

AT&T Stadium is located at 1 AT&T Way in Arlington, roughly 20 miles west of Downtown Dallas and 20 miles east of Fort Worth, so base yourself accordingly. There's no direct DART rail connection to the stadium, which makes transport planning critical. Budget for rideshare or official shuttles, and give yourself extra time around kickoff. The official Dallas FIFA Fan Festival runs daily from June 11 to July 19 at Fair Park in Dallas, giving you a solid free base on non-match days.

The Dallas-Forth Worth area has history with this tournament. Dallas hosted six FIFA World Cup 1994 games at the Cotton Bowl and served as FIFA's tournament headquarters and International Broadcast Centre that year. The organizational infrastructure shows.

Upcoming Dallas matches:

• June 14: Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador

• June 17: England vs. Croatia

• June 22: Argentina vs. Austria

• June 25: Japan vs. Sweden

• June 27: Jordan vs. Argentina

• July 14: Semifinal

What To Budget (And Where to Actually Save Money)

Ticket prices on resale start around $400 for group-stage matches and climb close to $11,000 for the final on July 19. That's the ceiling. Hotel prices have surged an average of 328% compared to pre-tournament rates, so your accommodation strategy matters more than almost anything else.

The smartest practical moves:

• Stay outside the immediate stadium area. Hotels near venues command the highest rates; staying in nearby suburbs or neighboring areas with good transit connections can lead to substantial savings.

• Use public transit wherever it exists. In Atlanta it's $2.50 on MARTA; in LA it's $1.75 on Metro. In Miami and Dallas, plan for shuttles and rideshares and budget accordingly.

• The average total trip cost across all U.S. host cities, including one ticket, travel, two nights of lodging, sightseeing, and food, runs approximately $5,440. Atlanta consistently comes in below that national average. Dallas, with more matches and more hotel inventory in the suburbs, is also competitive.

• Free fan festivals exist in every city covered here. If you can't get a ticket, they're genuinely good, not consolation prizes.

This is the kind of tournament that comes around once in a generation on home soil, and the U.S. hasn't hosted since 1994. Whether you make it to a match or spend the summer hopping between fan fests and watch parties, these four cities are worth your time right now. Don't sleep on Atlanta. It's the best value in the tournament, and it's hosting a semifinal. You'll thank yourself later.

Frequently Asked Questions: FIFA World Cup 2026 U.S. Cities

How many World Cup matches is each city hosting?

AT&T Stadium in Dallas (Arlington) hosts a tournament-high nine matches, including five group-stage games and a Semifinal on July 14. Atlanta and Los Angeles each host eight matches, with Atlanta hosting a Semifinal on July 15 and LA hosting a Quarterfinal on July 10. Miami is hosting seven matches, including a Quarterfinal on July 11 and the Bronze Final.

When does the USA play in the World Cup 2026?

The USMNT opens the tournament tonight, June 12, against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium at 6 p.m. PT. Their second group-stage match is June 19 in Seattle, and they return to LA on June 25 to face Türkiye. Check FIFA.com for the latest schedule updates.

Where is the FIFA Fan Festival in Atlanta?

The official FIFA Fan Festival for Atlanta is at Centennial Olympic Park, with live screenings of every match, food vendors, and concerts. It's free and open to all ages, though visitors under 18 need a guardian, and registration is required for entry.

What's the best way to get to SoFi Stadium for the World Cup in Los Angeles?

Metro operates direct buses from around 15 rail and bus-connected spots across LA County, including from the Westside, Valley, South Bay, and Union Station in Downtown LA. A bus ride is $1.75 each way. Driving and parking at the stadium costs $250 or more, so transit is the clear winner.

How much does it cost to attend a World Cup match in the U.S.?

The average total cost of attending across all 11 U.S. host cities runs approximately $5,440 per person, covering a ticket, flights, a two-night hotel stay, food, and transport. Atlanta is among the least expensive options; the New York/New Jersey area is among the most expensive.

Does Miami have a free fan festival for the World Cup?

Yes. The official FIFA Fan Festival at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami is completely free to enter, with FIFA matches on massive screens and local food and drinks available for purchase.

What big matches are coming to Dallas for the World Cup 2026?

Dallas hosts Côte d'Ivoire vs. Ecuador on June 14, England vs. Croatia on June 17, Argentina vs. Austria on June 22, Japan vs. Sweden on June 25, and Jordan vs. Argentina on June 27 during the group stage, plus knockout rounds through the Semifinal on July 14. Argentina appears twice in Dallas, giving the city the most stacked group-stage slate of any U.S. host city.

Is it worth going to the World Cup without a ticket?

Absolutely. Every host city has free or low-cost fan festivals, and the watch party culture in cities like Miami and Atlanta rivals anything you'd find in Europe during a major tournament.