FIFA on Thursday began unveiling plans for a sprawling, three-nation World Cup in 2026 by announcing the host cities for soccer’s biggest-ever championship. The tournament, to be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be the first to have 48 teams, an increase from the current 32, and take place in cities up and down and across North America.
The choices, 16 cities selected from a list of 22 finalists, were revealed in three regional groupings, blocs representing the East, Central and West regions.
The winning bidders included legendary soccer venues like Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which has hosted two World Cup finals; metropolitan areas with previous World Cup hosting experience like Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Dallas and Guadalajara, Mexico; and newcomers like Toronto, Philadelphia and Seattle.