FIFA has announced Guadalajara and Monterrey as the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament, set to run from March 23 to 31, 2026.
The competition will determine the final two teams to seal qualification for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, which kicks off less than three months later across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Six national teams from five confederations will feature in the play-off. Iraq will represent the AFC, DR Congo comes in for CAF, Jamaica and Suriname for Concacaf, Bolivia for CONMEBOL, and New Caledonia for the OFC. All matches will be played at Guadalajara Stadium and Monterrey Stadium.
Both venues will also stage matches during the World Cup itself, with Guadalajara hosting four group games and Monterrey set for three group-stage fixtures and a round-of-32 match.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the selected stadiums would provide “the perfect stages for what promises to be a thrilling event filled with passion, drama and excitement.”
“This Play-Off Tournament offers fans the chance to be part of history-making matches in world-class cities and venues ahead of the main event,” he added.
Guadalajara Stadium, opened in 2010, is home to Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara and is regarded as one of Mexico’s most modern football arenas. Monterrey Stadium, known as El Gigante de Acero (“The Steel Giant”), was inaugurated in 2015 and serves as the home ground of Rayados.
The draw for the play-off tournament will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.
The tournament forms part of a series of major events in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, including the Final Draw in Washington D.C. on December 5 and the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver on April 30. The World Cup officially begins on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
