!ball
World Cup 2026: A City-by-City Guide
The biggest party on earth is about to kick off. Here’s how to enjoy every thrilling minute.
World Cup 2026: A City-by-City Guide
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PLAYDASH Media
June 3, 2026
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By The New York Times Illustrations by Leon Edler June 1, 2026
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With three host countries, 16 host cities, 104 matches and a record 48 teams competing, nothing about this year’s FIFA World Cup is small — including the ticket prices.
Still, millions of fans are expected to flock to stadiums, street festivals and bars across Canada, Mexico and the United States from the first kickoff, on June 11 in Mexico City, to the final, on July 19 at New York New Jersey (a.k.a. MetLife) Stadium — like all the venues, temporarily given city-specific names for the tournament.
Whether you’ve saved up for a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or you happened to score tickets in a city you’ve never visited, this guide is for you. It offers basic information about schedules, events, places to gather, how to get around and ideas for what else to do while you’re there.
This World Cup will be a celebration of soccer, of course, but it’s also a tribute to 16 special cities planning big parties, and you are invited.
— Danial Adkison
UNITED STATES
!goal sign
Atlanta
Schedule
Mercedes-Benz Stadium June 15 Spain vs. Cape Verde
June 18 Czech Republic vs. South Africa
June 21 Spain vs. Saudi Arabia
June 24 Morocco vs. Haiti
June 27 Democratic Republic of Congo vs. Uzbekistan
July 1 Round of 32
July 7 Round of 16
July 15 Semifinal
Fan festivals
Matches will be shown on big screens at the official fan festival at Centennial Olympic Park, built for the 1996 Summer Olympics, a 10-minute walk from the stadium. General admission tickets to the fan festival are free, but you can purchase access to V.I.P. areas. Atlanta’s Beltline will also be hosting fan events along 17 miles of trail, great for watch-party hopping.
Where to watch
For lively match-watching atmospheres, check out STATS Brewpub right outside the stadium, Brewhouse Cafe in Little Five Points, Fado Irish Bar in Midtown or Park Tavern in Piedmont Park.
Getting around
Road closures and congestion will make driving difficult. Instead, try the MARTA, the city’s rail system. New for the Cup, you can now tap to pay ($2.50 one-way), and trains will be running at higher frequency. A new bus rapid transit line (BRT) links downtown to the Beltline as well.
Other attractions
Consider purchasing tickets ahead of time for the city’s other attractions, like the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. You can also explore the city’s green spaces, like the Beltline and Piedmont Park, and snap photos of the street art in the Krog Street Tunnel.
— Shannon Sims
!lobster Boston
Gillette Stadium June 13 Haiti vs. Scotland
June 16 Iraq vs. Norway
June 19 Scotland vs. Morocco
June 23 England vs. Ghana
June 26 Norway vs. France
June 29 Round of 32
July 9 Quarterfinal
Fan festival
It won’t take long for any visitor to realize Boston is a sports town. That spirit will be on full display from June 12 to 27 at a free festival at City Hall Plaza, where matches will be broadcast live and fans can gather to enjoy food, drinks and live entertainment.
Check out the Banshee in Dorchester; the Phoenix Landing in Cambridge; the Greatest Bar, just steps from TD Garden in the North End; or the nearby Banners Kitchen & Tap. If you prefer an espresso instead of a pint, then head to Caffè dello Sport.
For the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, immerse yourself in history by walking the Freedom Trail, which starts in Boston Common and ends at the Bunker Hill Monument. For some respite from the crowds, the Museum of Fine Art, near the lush Back Bay Fens, is showing an exhibition called “Framing Nature: Gardens and Imagination” (through June 28) or check out the waterfront Institute of Contemporary Art, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Finally, learn why Boston is known as the City of Champions, with a visit to TD Garden for a tour of the Sports Museum.
— Derek M. Norman
!cowboy hat Dallas
AT&T Stadium June 14 Netherlands vs. Japan
June 17 England vs. Croatia
June 22 Argentina vs. Austria
June 25 Japan vs. Sweden
June 27 Jordan vs. Argentina
June 30 Round of 32
July 3 Round of 32
July 6 Round of 16
July 14 Semifinal
The free FIFA fan festival will take place at Fair Park, home of the State Fair of Texas.
Bars and restaurants in the Deep Ellum neighborhood, near the fan festival, will keep the party going. Check out the scene at Off the Cuff, Craft and Growler or Double Wide. Other sure spots for festive vibes across Dallas include Peticolas Brewing Company, in the Design District, and the Londoner Pub near Southern Methodist University.
Check out the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, which has a special soccer-focused interactive exhibition this summer. Or get some air at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. Hit up Deep Ellum, perhaps the coolest neighborhood in Dallas, where you can catch live music or savor late-night tacos, or bike along the Katy Trail, a converted railroad line.
!astronaut
Houston
NRG Stadium June 14 Germany vs. Curaçao
June 17 Portugal vs. Democratic Republic of Congo
June 20 Netherlands vs. Sweden
June 23 Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
June 26 Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
July 4 Round of 16
The free, official fan festival (June 11 to July 19) will take place in the East Downtown (EaDo) area, a 15-minute (without traffic) drive from the stadium.
In EaDo, watch parties will also be held at the area’s many bars throughout the tournament, like the soccer-focused Pitch 25 Beer Park or Little Woodrow’s EaDo. Elsewhere, check out Social Beer Garden in Midtown or the Phoenix on Westheimer.
Visitors often love Houston’s museums, like the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, or the Menil Collection, and its dining options, like Viet-Cajun crawfish at Crawfish and Noodles or award-winning Texas barbecue at Truth BBQ. Got moon joy thanks to Artemis II? Space Center Houston, the home of NASA, is about a 40-minute drive southeast of town.
!guitar Kansas City
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium June 16 Argentina vs. Algeria
June 20 Ecuador vs. Curaçao
June 25 Tunisia vs. Netherlands
June 27 Algeria vs. Austria
July 11 Quarterfinals
A free fan festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial will feature live music and live-streamed matches on 18 select days. General admission passes are available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Kansas City has a vibrant bar (and barbecue) scene. Try No Other Pub in the city’s Power and Light District, John’s Big Deck downtown, Strange Days Brewing Company in the River Market neighborhood or KC Bier Co., a beer garden in Waldo.
In addition to RideKC, the city’s public transit system and a free downtown streetcar, the city is also organizing a coach bus system called ConnectKC26 that will connect key locations like Kansas City International Airport, various attractions around the city and Arrowhead Stadium.
Union Station, one stop along the city’s free streetcar, will host a marketplace to showcase businesses, artisans and performers. Hopping on and off this train will also allow you to explore some of Kansas City’s highlights, like street art in the Crossroads Arts District, the Money Museum or the Riverfront Heritage Trail.
!camera
Los Angeles
SoFi Stadium June 12 U.S.A. vs. Paraguay
June 15 Iran vs. New Zealand
June 18 Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 21 Belgium vs. Iran
June 25 Turkey vs. U.S.A.
June 28 Round of 32
July 2 Round of 32
July 10 Quarterfinal
The city will host multiple fan zones, from Venice Beach to downtown Burbank. The heart of the action will take place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from June 11 to 14. The official community chairman, Snoop Dogg, will help lead this celebration. (Adult tickets are $10; kids under 12 are free.)
Sample the diversity of Los Angeles while cheering on global teams at places like Guelaguetza in Harvard Heights, the Fox and Hounds in Studio City, La Chuperia in Lincoln Heights or Ye Old King’s Head in Santa Monica.
Metro will provide enhanced bus and light rail service ($1.75 each way) as well as park-and-ride options with direct buses to the stadium, in Inglewood, on match days.
Take in the views and fresh air from the Hollywood Hills at Griffith Observatory, peruse art and the exquisite gardens at the Getty Center, or check out the newly opened Los Angeles County Museum of Art building designed by the Pritzker Prize winner Peter Zumthor. Track down your favorite stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or for some thrills, head to Universal Studios or ride the Ferris wheel and enjoy the beach at the Santa Monica Pier.
!alligator
Miami
Hard Rock Stadium June 15 Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay
June 21 Uruguay vs. Cape Verde
June 24 Scotland vs. Brazil
June 27 Colombia vs. Portugal
July 11 Quarterfinal
July 18 Bronze final
The free, official fan festival will take place at Bayfront Park, a waterfront oasis in the heart of downtown Miami, from June 13 to July 5. During the World Cup, Lincoln Road, a pedestrian promenade in Miami Beach, will feature interactive soccer zones, youth skill labs and daily pop-ups, as well as live matches screened at open-air cafes.
South Beach will also be a gathering spot with many watch parties spilling out into the street. For more of a bar experience, try Fritz and Franz Bierhaus in Coral Gables, the Auld Dubliner Irish pub or Black Market Miami downtown or, for South American games, Boteco Copacabana in South Beach.
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science features a three-level aquarium and a planetarium. Check out street art, galleries and boutiques in the Wynwood arts district or see contemporary art from the likes of Yayoi Kusama and Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Rubell Museum. Savor a Cubano sandwich in Little Havana, or just enjoy people-watching in South Beach.
!pizza
New York New Jersey
MetLife Stadium June 13 Brazil vs. Morocco
June 16 France vs. Senegal
June 22 Norway vs. Senegal
June 25 Ecuador vs. Germany
June 27 Panama vs. England
July 5 Round of 16
July 19 Final
Fan festivals and events are scheduled to take place at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J.; Rockefeller Center, in Manhattan; and USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. The Adidas Home of Soccer event at Brooklyn Bridge Park will feature watch parties, concerts, D.J.s and more from June 13 to July 19. Fan zones are also planned for Staten Island and the Bronx.
For sports bar action in New York, check out the Football Factory at Legends in Midtown Manhattan; Banter in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Bronx Alehouse in Kingsbridge, the Bronx; La Gran Uruguaya in Jackson Heights, Queens; and Rivercrest and El Basurero in Astoria, Queens. If you’re staying in New Jersey, check out Varitage Brew Works in Bloomfield, Mulligan’s in Hoboken or Don Felix Bar & Restaurant in Elizabeth.
!liberty bell
Philadelphia
Lincoln Financial Field June 14 Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador
June 19 Brazil vs. Haiti
June 22 France vs. Iraq
June 25 Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast
June 27 Croatia vs. Ghana
A fan festival will run for all 39 days of the tournament at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park. It is free and open to the public, but requires registration.
Check out sports bars like Brauhaus Schmitz on South Street, Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse in Center City or one of the city’s oldest taverns, McGillin’s Old Ale House, established in 1860.
The stadium, locally known as the Linc, is in South Philadelphia. Visitors can navigate the city by its public transportation system, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ($2.90). To get to the stadium, the Broad Street Line provides direct service to NRG Station, which is a short walk. Fans leaving the stadium will receive free travel on SEPTA, and shuttles from various downtown hotels will also be available, according to FIFA.
Grab some food at Reading Terminal Market, run up the “Rocky” steps toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art or explore U.S. history by visiting the Liberty Bell. The knockout game on July 4 coincides with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, at Independence Hall.
!golden gate bridge San Francisco Bay Area
Levi’s Stadium June 13 Qatar vs. Switzerland
June 16 Austria vs. Jordan
June 19 Turkey vs. Paraguay
June 22 Jordan vs. Algeria
June 25 Paraguay vs. Australia
The San Francisco Bay Area will not have one central fan festival. Instead, more than 30 smaller, community-based watch parties will take place throughout the region. Some of those spots include Thrive City at Chase Center in the Mission Bay neighborhood, Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf, China Basin Park near Oracle Park and Yerba Buena Lane downtown. The watch parties are free.
Popular San Francisco soccer bars include the Kezar Pub in Haight-Ashbury, the Mad Dog in the Fog and Danny Coyle’s in Lower Haight, and Maggie McGarry’s in North Beach. Or try Clara’s Junction near the stadium.
Skate, bike or spend golden hour at Sunset Dunes Park, formerly the Great Highway, or admire the Golden Gate Bridge from Tunnel Tops Park. Catch the immersive multimedia show “Aura” inside Grace Cathedral, fill up on the late-night noodles being steamed along Stockton Street in Chinatown, or compare mezcal bars in the Mission — start with Mosto or ABV.
!space needle tower Seattle
Lumen Field June 15 Belgium vs. Egypt
June 19 U.S.A. vs. Australia
June 24 Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar
June 26 Egypt vs. Iran
Free streamed matches, events and activities are planned for locations along the Unity Loop, including the Seattle Center, Waterfront Park, Pacific Place and Victory Hall.
Try Fuel Sports Grill in Ballard, the George and Dragon in Fremont, the Atlantic Crossing in Green Lake or Buckley’s in Belltown.
From the observation deck of the Space Needle to the stalls of the Pike Place Market, Seattle offers plenty of things to do and see. Step into the world of the Museum of Pop Culture, marvel at the colorful glasswork at Chihuly Garden and Glass or visit the Seattle Aquarium. And for those looking to escape the city for some fresh air, plenty of hiking options just outside the city allow you to take in the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
CANADA
!hockey stick Toronto
BMO Field June 12 Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 17 Ghana vs. Panama
June 20 Germany vs. Ivory Coast
June 23 Panama vs. Croatia
June 26 Senegal vs. Iraq
The FIFA fan festival at the Bentway, a public space built below the Gardiner Expressway in the bustling Fort York neighborhood, is the official place to watch live broadcasts of the matches and partake in fan experiences. Only premium tickets (starting at 100 Canadian dollars, or $73, plus tax and fees) are still available. Free Canada Soccer House watch parties are set to take place at the Harbourfront Centre from June 11 to July 2.
Toronto has no shortage of good neighborhood soccer bars. The classic Cafe Diplomatico in Little Italy is a favorite spot to watch matches. The Dock Ellis in Trinity Bellwoods is a hip sports bar with a strong Arsenal following. Real Sports Bar and Grill, next to where the Maple Leafs and Raptors play, is more central (and not tied to any club) and features a giant screen.
To offset expected congestion, the Toronto Transit Commission’s trains, buses and streetcars will offer increased service and extended hours on all routes (standard fare, 3.30 dollars). A temporary streetcar platform on Fleet Street should offset road closures around the stadium, and there will be designated drop-off and pickup areas for ride-hailing services.
First-time visitors should check out the 1,800-foot CN Tower, Waterworks Food Hall, the Arcadia Earth immersive art exhibit at the Well market hall, and Riverdale Park East for panoramic views of Toronto.
— Gerald Narciso
!salmon
Vancouver
BC Place Stadium June 13 Australia vs. Turkey
June 18 Canada vs. Qatar
June 21 New Zealand vs. Egypt
June 24 Switzerland vs. Canada
June 26 New Zealand vs. Belgium
Fans can stroll the Match Day Spectator Route, a pedestrian zone that winds along the waterfront near the stadium, starting four hours before matches. At nearby Science World, where the dome from Expo 86 is transformed into a giant soccer ball, the FIFA Museum exhibition “Soccer & Technology” explores the evolution of technology in the sport. The free FIFA fan festival, which includes family-friendly experiences and a concert series, will take place on the 114-acre Pacific National Exhibition grounds at Hastings Park. Free Canada Soccer House watch parties are set to take place at the Shipyards, a dining, shopping and recreation area in North Vancouver, from June 11 to July 7.
For those who prefer to enjoy the matches over a pint, the London pub in Chinatown has long been popular for English Premier League loyalists. Steps from the stadium, the Shark Club, though not a classic soccer pub, is the city’s premier sports bar and will be transformed into an official Canadian rooting zone for Team Canada’s two local matches.
SkyTrain, Vancouver’s three-line rapid transit system, serves the stadium as well as the downtown area (3.35 Canadian dollars, or about $2.45). Increased bus service, including free shuttles from nearby SkyTrain stations, will ease the trip to the FIFA fan festival.
It’s unforgivable to visit Vancouver without indulging in nature. A bike ride around the sea wall or the semi-torturous Grouse Grind, a steep one-and-a-half-mile hike, will level out your prematch nerves. The scenic Shipyards area, across the Burrard Inlet and accessible from downtown by a 15-minute Seabus ride (around 5 dollars), will also draw large crowds with free match-watching parties.
MEXICO
!agave Guadalajara
Estadio Akron June 11 South Korea vs. Czech Republic
June 18 Mexico vs. South Korea
June 23 Colombia vs. Democratic Republic of Congo
June 26 Uruguay vs. Spain
The official fan festival will take place in Plaza Liberación in the city’s historic center, between the twin-spired Guadalajara Metropolitan Cathedral and the Teatro Degollado, an elegant theater that opened in 1866. Food stalls showcasing local specialties will fill the adjacent Plaza de Armas, and the theater will host cultural events. Entry is free, but advance registration is required.
Most of the bars and restaurants along Avenida Chapultepec and in the surrounding Colonia Americana will be showing World Cup matches. Gallo Cervecero is an American-style sports bar (wings and burgers), and Santo Coyote offers an extensive Mexican menu. Or try one of the city’s classic cantinas: Cantina La Fuente in the historic center is a landmark where you may hear live mariachi between matches, while the walls at Los Famosos Equipales in Artesanos are plastered with old sports photos and posters.
Uber and other ride-hailing services are available, but to avoid the traffic, you can take the light rail (El Tren Ligero) or city buses to the historic center (30 pesos, or about $1.75, for a rechargeable card and 11 pesos a ride) or use the city’s bike-sharing program (120 pesos a day) to get around downtown. Mexico will deploy almost 100,000 security personnel in the three host cities, a particular concern in Guadalajara after drug cartel violence erupted there in February.
The frescoes of José Clemente Orozco covering the chapel at the Hospicio Cabañas, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are a masterpiece of Mexican muralism. The town of Tlaquepaque, reachable by light rail in the southern part of the metropolitan area, offers a boundless variety of handicrafts and folk art. A day trip to the town of Tequila to tour distilleries will take you through a stunning landscape of blue agave plantations.
— Elisabeth Malkin
!pyramid
Mexico City
Estadio Banorte June 11 Mexico vs. South Africa
June 17 Uzbekistan vs. Colombia
June 24 Czech Republic vs. Mexico
The official fan festival will take place in the city’s central square, the Zócalo, one of the world’s largest plazas, from June 11 to July 19. Food, concerts and cultural exhibitions will complement the matches. Entrance is free, but advance registration is required. The military parade ground Campo Marte will also host a fan festival, offering food prepared by chefs from around the country and live music on selected nights. The daily entrance fee is 400 pesos, or about $23; tickets for musical performances are extra.
Even local taco stands will be packed with soccer fans, but you can’t go wrong in traditional cantinas: Cantina Covadonga in Colonia Roma; Cantina El León de Oro in Escandón; Cantina el Bosque in San Miguel Chapultepec; or El Gran León de Oro in San José Insurgentes. Los Panchos is a family-friendly restaurant with several branches. You’ll want to reserve in advance at all these places.
Mexico City’s streets will be even more clogged than usual, so you will need patience waiting for Uber or other ride-hailing services. Try using public transportation, particularly the Metro (5 pesos, or about 30 cents), Metrobus (6 pesos) or light rail (3 pesos). The same fare card (15 pesos) also works for the city’s bike-sharing service (about 128 pesos a day). Note that the light-rail stop for the stadium is called Estadio Azteca, the name most locals use for the venue.