From MetLife's Final to the Azteca's legacy — every host city broken down: stadium, transit, where to stay, what to see, and how to spend the days between matches.
Sixteen cities. Three countries. One trophy. Here's everything you need to know about each host city — stadium, how to get there, where to stay, and how to make the most of the days between matches.
🇺🇸 United States — 11 Cities, 60 Matches
New York / New Jersey — MetLife Stadium
Hosts the Final on July 19 — the most coveted tickets in sports. Stay in Manhattan or Hoboken (PATH train saves $150+/night vs Manhattan hotels). NJ Transit runs direct from Penn Station to the stadium for $5 each way. Between matches: Brooklyn's food scene, Central Park, Liberty Island, a Yankees or Mets game. The most electric atmosphere of any host city.
Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
Uber/Lyft strongly recommended — LA traffic during the Cup will be severe. Book in Inglewood or Culver City to cut commute time. Between matches: Santa Monica beach, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood, Malibu, Getty Center. Day trip to San Diego (2 hrs) or Joshua Tree (2.5 hrs).
Dallas / Fort Worth — AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
Budget-friendliest major US host city. Easy rental car access with massive stadium parking. Between matches: Deep Ellum music scene, Fort Worth Stockyards, world-class BBQ, Reunion Tower. Day trip to Austin (3 hrs) for music and food.
San Francisco Bay Area — Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
Take BART to Santa Clara. Book in Oakland or San Jose for significantly better hotel rates than SF proper. Between matches: Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Napa Valley (1 hr), Fisherman's Wharf. Best day trip: Muir Woods redwoods.
Miami — Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
Book early — Miami summer hotels are expensive. Uber/Lyft or rent a car (limited transit to Hard Rock). Between matches: South Beach, Wynwood Walls, Art Deco District, Everglades airboat tours. Day trip to Key West (3.5 hrs) or the Florida Keys.
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Best value hotel city in the US lineup. MARTA train to Vine City station ($2.50 each way). Between matches: MLK Jr. National Historic Site, Georgia Aquarium (world's largest), Ponce City Market, Stone Mountain. Day trip to Chattanooga (2 hrs).
Seattle — Lumen Field
Easiest stadium transit of any US host city — Link Light Rail straight to the stadium. Between matches: Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Chihuly Garden, world-class coffee. Day trips: Olympic National Park (2.5 hrs), Mount Rainier (1.5 hrs). Pack a rain layer.
Kansas City — Arrowhead Stadium
Most underrated host city. Car or Uber to Arrowhead. Between matches: the best BBQ in America (Joe's, Q39, Gates), the Jazz District, Country Club Plaza, Nelson-Atkins Museum. Hotel prices are very reasonable compared to coastal cities.
Philadelphia — Lincoln Financial Field
SEPTA Broad Street Line to Pattison station ($2.50). Between matches: Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Reading Terminal Market, cheesesteak tour (Pat's vs Geno's is non-negotiable). Day trip to Washington D.C. (1.5 hrs by Amtrak).
Boston / Foxborough — Gillette Stadium
Take the commuter rail from South Station (1 hr, $20 round trip — skip the parking nightmare). Between matches: Freedom Trail, Harvard Square, Fenway Park, Cape Cod (1.5 hrs). Day trip to Salem or Newport (1 hr).
Houston — NRG Stadium
Drive or Uber to NRG (limited public transit). Hot and humid in July — plan around it. Between matches: NASA Space Center, Buffalo Bayou Park, world-class international food scene, Galveston Island (1 hr). Great Vietnamese and Tex-Mex food city.
🇨🇦 Canada — 2 Cities
Toronto — BMO Field
Excellent transit system — TTC streetcar or GO Train. Between matches: CN Tower, Distillery District, Kensington Market, Harbourfront. Day trips: Niagara Falls (1.5 hrs), Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country. Book in Scarborough or Mississauga for better hotel rates.
Vancouver — BC Place
Most scenic host city. SkyTrain to BC Place. Between matches: Stanley Park (world-class urban park), Granville Island Market, Gastown. Day trips: Whistler (2 hrs), ferry to Victoria (1.5 hrs), North Shore mountains. Book in Surrey or Burnaby for better rates.
🇲🇽 Mexico — 3 Cities
Mexico City — Estadio Azteca
The most legendary stadium in World Cup history — hosted the 1970 and 1986 Finals. Metro system is cheap and efficient. Between matches: Teotihuacan pyramids (1 hr), Xochimilco floating gardens, Frida Kahlo Museum, Mercado de Jamaica. One of the world's great food cities.
Guadalajara — Estadio Akron
Between matches: day trip to Tequila town (1 hr, tequila is made here — obviously), historic centro, mariachi in Plaza de los Mariachis, Tlaquepaque artisan market. Most relaxed host city vibe.
Monterrey — Estadio BBVA
Between matches: Parque Fundidora (industrial park turned green space), Cerro de la Silla hiking, Grutas de García caves (40 min), La Huasteca Canyon rock climbing. Great carne asada and cabrito (roast goat) food scene.
