The biggest World Cup in history is not taking place until 2026, but the event already has an official logo and it has fans talking.
The image that is set to become one of the most recognizable symbols of the 2026 World Cup was unveiled at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles on May 17 in advance of the tournament that will be co-hosted by the North American nations of the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
The logo unveiled was a clear break from the more intricate and colorful designs of past editions, and fans took notice. Many of them were critical of the minimalist execution.
Here's the logo for the 2026 event, which will be the first to be co-hosted by three nations. The tournament will feature an expanded field of 48 teams playing 104 games in a record number of venues.
What is the FIFA 2026 World Cup logo?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup logo is "2" and "6" stacked vertically in white, with the FIFA World Cup superimposed.
"For the first time in history, an image of the actual trophy and the tournament hosting year is being depicted, forming an innovative design language that anchors the FIFA World Cup emblem for 2026 and beyond," FIFA said in a press release. "The image of the trophy and the year allow for customisation to reflect the uniqueness of each host [city and nation]."
This was the moment it was unveiled by Brazil star and World Cup hero Ronaldo, together with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Its simple design seems to lend itself to various different executions, one of which was seen on the roof of SoFi Stadium, one of the tournament venues.
As also revealed during the logo unveiling, each host city will eventually release a logo and color scheme that is specific to each venue and captures the character and personality of the city.
MORE: Future World Cup locations past 2026
Social media reaction to FIFA World Cup logo
While you can find a few fans who appreciate the simple design, many others were unimpressed. The clip art references were many.
World Cup 2026 stadiums, cities, host venues
The 23rd edition of the men's World Cup will take place across 16 cities in North America.
The majority of the matches will be played in the USA, including every knockout-round match. Two venues in Canada and another three in Mexico will host group-stage matches.
The list of 16 cities follows below. Match assignments have yet to be announced.
MORE: Which city will host the 2026 World Cup final?
Venues to host 2026 World Cup matches
| Country | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Toronto | BMO Field | 45,500 |
| Canada | Vancouver | BC Place | 54,000 |
| Mexico | Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | 46,232 |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | 87,523 |
| Mexico | Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | 53,500 |
| USA | Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 |
| USA | Boston | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 |
| USA | Dallas | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 |
| USA | Houston | NRG Stadium | 71,795 |
| USA | Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 |
| USA | Los Angeles | SoFi Stadium | 70,240 |
| USA | Miami | Hard Rock Stadium | 64,767 |
| USA | New York | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 |
| USA | Philadelphia | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,176 |
| USA | San Francisco | Levi's Stadium | 68,500 |
| USA | Seattle | Lumen Field | 69,000 |
MORE: Do USA, Canada, Mexico have to qualify for 2026?
Where will the 2026 World Cup final be held?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off Thursday, June 11, 2026, and will conclude just over a month later on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
The stadium that will host the final on July 19, 2026, will be one of these three venues, according to reports:
- Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
- New York: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)
- Dallas: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Past men's World Cup finals held on North American soil have been hosted in Mexico City and just outside Los Angeles:
- 1970: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
- 1986: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
- 1994: Rose Bowl (Pasadena, Calif.)
MORE: Every men's World Cup final since 1930
World Cup 2026 format
The 48 teams that qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be split into 12 groups of four teams.
The top two finishers in each group and the eight best third-place teams will advance to the Round of 32, which will kick off the knockout stages.
The knockout stages, beginning with the Round of 32, will consist of single-elimination matches that go to extra time and penalties, if necessary, in case of a draw after 90 minutes.
The road to the final will include the Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, the quarterfinals, and semifinals. A total of 104 matches will be played.
MORE: Everything to know about the 2026 World Cup
World Cup 2026 timeline, key dates
The 2026 World Cup will mark the second time that the men's World Cup has been played on American soil (1994), the third time in Mexico (1970, 1986), and the first time in Canada.
The countries put forth a united bid that won FIFA's vote in 2018.
- June 13, 2018: Bid by USA, Canada, and Mexico voted to host 2026 event
- July 18, 2022: Cities, stadiums announced for 2026 World Cup
- March 14, 2023: FIFA approves format for 48-team World Cup in 2026
- May 17, 2023: FIFA World Cup logo is unveiled
- June 11, 2026: FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off