FIFA vows ‘invasion’ as 2026 World Cup venues revealed

(FILES) This file photo taken on October 4, 2019 shows FIFA president Gianni Infantino looking on during the sign memorandum of understanding with World Health Organization (WHO) aimed at promoting and protecting public health globally through football in Geneva. – FIFA’s ethics committee on August 19, 2020, decided to close a case against president Gianni Infantino over possible ethics violations following a preliminary investigation by its investigatory chamber. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned Canada, Mexico and the United States to prepare for a football “invasion” on Thursday as the host cities for the 2026 World Cup were revealed.

The first-ever World Cup co-hosted by three different countries will also see a record number of teams taking part, increasing by 16 from 32 to 48 as the tournament returns to North America for the first time since the 1994 finals.

The 16 venues named on Thursday include 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

All of the US games will be held in venues that are home to NFL teams, with the likes of the $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the New York Giants’ 82,000-seater MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford tipped to host the final.

A total of 60 of the 80 games in the tournament — including all knockout games from the quarter-finals onwards — will take place at US venues.

Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium — host of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals — was included among three Mexican venues along with the cities of Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Vancouver and Toronto will stage the Canadian games in the tournament.

Infantino meanwhile said 2026 would eclipse the 1994 finals in the United States — which holds the record for the