The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest in history, expanding to 48 teams and 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with the United States staging the majority of matches as the primary host nation. Among those cities, Miami has secured a prominent role, confirming its status as one of world football’s premier destinations.
Matches in South Florida will be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which will be temporarily rebranded as “Miami Stadium” to comply with FIFA’s rules on non-commercial venue names during major tournaments. The venue, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes, has hosted multiple Super Bowls, the Miami Open tennis tournament, and the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, underscoring its experience with global-scale events.
For the World Cup, Miami Stadium is scheduled to host seven matches: four group-stage games, one Round of 32 knockout tie, one quarterfinal, and the prestigious third-place “bronze final.” Current schedules show group fixtures on June 15, 21, 24, and 27, followed by a Round of 32 match on July 3, a quarterfinal on July 11, and the third-place match on July 18, all in Eastern Time. Tournament organizers list the stadium’s World Cup capacity at roughly 65,000–67,000 fans, creating an intense but still intimate atmosphere compared with some of the largest venues in the U.S.
Locally, the effort is being coordinated by the FIFA World Cup 26 Miami Host Committee, which highlights the region’s diversity, its strong Latin American and Caribbean connections, and its identity as a global crossroads where “cultures converge” around football. Miami’s tourism board is already promoting the event, noting that the city will welcome World Cup supporters for multiple fixtures, including a Round of 32 clash, and positioning the tournament as a showcase for South Florida’s beaches, food, nightlife, and arts scene.
Hosting rights also come with logistical and environmental challenges. Research on heat stress for World Cup venues has flagged Miami as one of the locations where midday conditions could be especially demanding, with the highest thermal stress often occurring from late morning through early afternoon. That analysis underlines why careful scheduling, cooling strategies, and hydration protocols will be critical for player safety and fan comfort in 2026.
Economically, major tournaments have historically driven surges in tourism, hospitality, and infrastructure spending, and Miami officials expect a similar boost as visitors book hotels from Miami Beach to Coral Gables and beyond. While precise economic impact figures will depend on final ticket allocations and travel patterns, the combination of seven matches and the global spotlight of the third-place game positions Miami as one of the key hubs of the entire competition.
For supporters, the appeal is obvious: watch World Cup football in a modern, open-air stadium, then step into a city that lives and breathes the sport year-round, from neighborhood pitches to packed sports bars showing European and South American leagues. With its mix of football heritage, event experience, and unique local culture, Miami is set to be one of the standout stages of the FIFA World Cup 2026.