The 2026 World Cup final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, FIFA confirmed on Sunday.
The New York bid beat off a tough assault from Dallas to secure the July 19 game, which marked the end of the expanded 48-team tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The competition will begin with the first game on June 11 at Mexico City’s historic Azteca Stadium.
The semi-finals will be held in Atlanta and Dallas, with Miami hosting the third-place game.
The judgments were made during a live television broadcast in North America that included FIFA president Gianni Infantino, comedian and actor Kevin Hart, rapper Drake, and celebrity Kim Kardashian.
The 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium, located across the Hudson River in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets, but it has also hosted several international football events, notably the 2016 Copa America tournament final.
The New York bid has heavily advocated for the city’s experience organizing large international events, as well as its position as a global city with convenient transportation options for fans.
Dallas had thought that AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, would benefit from a roof to protect the game against the elements.
Los Angeles had also entered the competition, but their efforts were hampered by conflicts with FIFA over tournament modifications needed for its NFL venue, SoFi Stadium.
Following 1970 and 1986, the Azteca will be the first stadium to host World Cup tournament games in three different editions.
The arena held the finals of the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
The United States will begin their group stage campaign on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with games also scheduled in Seattle.
The Canadian team’s first game will be played in Toronto. The team will also play in Vancouver, Canada.