The FIFA world cup is truly a worldwide event. All five major continents have put on at least one World Cup. The tournament has been hosted in 18 different countries, the latest being co-hosts the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026, with Canada staging World Cup matches for the first time.

1950 World Cup match at the Estádio do MaracanãA 1950 World Cup match at the Estádio do Maracanã

Each tournament makes use of various stadiums around the host country, from the first World Cup in Uruguay, where the entire tournament took place in three stadiums within Montevideo, to 2022 where new state-of-the-art stadiums were built at eight venues, four of these in the country's capital Doha. The 2026 World Cup went further still, becoming the first tournament co-hosted by three nations and the first to feature 48 teams, spread across sixteen venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The most venues used was twenty at the 2002 World Cup held in Japan and South Korea.

Stadiums of the FIFA World Cup

Year Host Final No. of Venues
2026 United States, Mexico, Canada New York New Jersey Stadium 16 stadiums
2022 Qatar Lusail Stadium 8 stadiums
2018 Russia Luzhniki Stadium 12 stadiums
2014 Brazil Maracanã Stadium 12 stadiums
2010 South Africa Soccer City 10 stadiums
2006 Germany Olympiastadion 12 stadiums
2002 Japan & South Korea Yokohama International Stadium 20
1998 France Stade de France 10
1994 USA Rose Bowl 9
1990 Italy Stadio Olimpico 12
1986 Mexico Estadio Azteca 12
1982 Spain Estadio Santiago 17
1978 Argentina El Monumental 6
1974 West Germany Olympiastadion 9
1970 Mexico Estadio Azteca 5
1966 England Wembley Stadium 8
1962 Chile Estadio Nacional de Chile 4
1958 Sweden Rasunda Fotbollstadion 12
1954 Switzerland Wankdorfstadion 6
1950 Brazil Maracanã Stadium 6
1948 canceled — —
1942 canceled — —
1938 France Stade Olympique de Colombes 10
1934 Italy Stadio Nazionale 8
1930 Uruguay Estadio Centenario 3

Trivia

  • At the first World Cup in Uruguay, the entire tournament took place in three stadiums within Montevideo; Central Park, Pocitos Stadium and Estadio Centenario, which staged the final between the hosts and Argentina. 
  • The most famous of all World Cup stadiums is Maracanã stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The stadium had a record paid attendance at the final game at the 1950 FIFA World Cup of 199,854. The stadium was upgraded and again used for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
  • Only two stadiums have hosted the final match in two different World Cups. Estadio Azteca, in Mexico City hosted the final in 1970 and 1986. It went on to stage the opening game of the 2026 World Cup on 11 June 2026, becoming the first stadium to feature in three different World Cups. The other is the Maracanã in Brazil, which hosted the finals in 1950 and 2014.
  • The 2026 World Cup final was held at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Spain beat Argentina 1–0 after extra time to win their second world title.
  • Two stadiums to have hosted the FIFA World Cup finals for both men and women - the Rose Bowl hosted the men's final in 1994 and the women's final in 1999. (The other stadium is the Råsunda Stadium in Sweden, which hosted the men's final in 1958 and the women's final in 1995)
  • At USA 1994, the Pontiac Silverdome was the venue of the first-ever indoor game in World Cup finals history.
  • The stadium which has hosted the most matches is Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, 24 (10 matches in 1970, 9 matches in 1986 and 5 matches in 2026)
  • The most venues used was 20 at the 2002 World Cup in Japan & South Korea.
  • A few stadiums have hosted Olympic Games events as well as World Cup matches. The Maracanã stadium in Rio De Janeiro (World Cup 1950, 2014, Olympics 2016), Stade Colombes in Paris (World Cup 1938, Olympic 1924).