2026 World Cup Expands Training Camps to Non-Tournament Cities in USA and Mexico

In a significant announcement made by FIFA, the 2026 World Cup, set to be the first tournament played across three nations and featuring an expanded lineup of 48 teams, will see a majority of its matches hosted in the United States. With the kickoff scheduled for June 11, 2026, in Mexico City, this event marks a historic expansion in the world of international football. The final match is slated for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as confirmed by FIFA on February 4.

Of the total 104 games, 78 will be played across various venues in the United States, with Mexico and Canada hosting 13 matches each. This distribution underscores the tournament's unique tri-nation hosting arrangement. As preparations gain momentum, FIFA has also disclosed potential team training camp locations that span across the United States and include cities such as Chattanooga, Tennessee; Cincinnati; Green Bay, Wisconsin; Louisville, Kentucky; St. Louis; Salt Lake City; San Antonio; and Westfield, Indiana.

Training sites adjacent to U.S. game venues have been proposed in Atlanta; Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas; Kansas City and Riverside, Missouri, and Lawrence, Kansas; Philadelphia; and St. Louis. While potential camps in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey have been identified, no Canadian sites have been listed yet. FIFA has indicated that additional training camp locations will be announced in due course.

The tournament's structure has also been outlined with specific matchups for the new round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals detailed. This structure reveals the potential path through the knockout rounds for host nations. For instance, should the U.S. top Group D, their first knockout game would be in Santa Clara, California on July 1. Success there could see them playing in Seattle on July 6, with a quarterfinal in Inglewood, California on July 10 and a semifinal in Arlington, Texas on July 14. Conversely, a second-place group finish would reroute their path through Arlington on July 3, Atlanta on July 7, Kansas City on July 11, and back to Atlanta for a semifinal on July 15.

This detailed planning showcases FIFA's comprehensive approach to organizing what promises to be an expansive and logistically complex tournament. With the inclusion of more teams and games than ever before spread across three countries, the 2026 World Cup is poised to be a landmark event in international football history.