Study Ranks Best FIFA World Cup Host Cities in North America—Mexico Comes Out Ahead

The FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is set to begin on June 11, 2026, and will conclude on July 19, 2026.

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It’s set to be one of the world’s most-watched athletic events and could see up to five million soccer fans visit North America to watch the games. It’s also going to be a busy time for host cities across the United States. While Mexico and Canada are sharing hosting responsibilities across 16 venues, 78 out of 104 matches will take place in the United States.

Travelers like me who like to avoid crowds will probably skip out on visiting these cities during the FIFA World Cup. However, for soccer fans who are eager to see their national team play, it’s the chance of a lifetime to join fellow soccer fans from their country in the stands.

In short, while I dread getting caught in a FIFA World Cup crowd (even as a huge soccer fan), you might want to know which host cities are going to give fans the best experience.

A ticket platform, Live Football Tickets, recently released a study that analyzed 7 metrics to rank the top FIFA World Cup host cities this year. The study takes into consideration things like average hotel price per night, cost of living per month, number of major tourist attractions, city safety, average temperature, average rainfall, and more to finalize the best World Cup cities.

If you’re planning to attend a World Cup game or just want to be where the action is when the tournament unfolds, here’s where to go. (Also, if you want to find tickets to the games, Live Football Tickets is a great choice. They have a unique and valuable 150% guarantee.)

Best FIFA World Cup host cities based on a data study

The top five FIFA World Cup host cities are Guadalajara, Mexico; Toronto, Canada; Mexico City, Mexico; Los Angeles, USA; and Kansas City, USA.

Guadalajara landed in first place thanks to its affordability and great weather. From hotel room rates to restaurant costs, visitors won’t overspend for their FIFA adventure. Plus, the temperatures should hover around 70 degrees even in summer.

Toronto came in second place thanks to its safety performance. While it’s around 70% more expensive than Guadalajara, it’s the safest World Cup host city from the list. Next is Mexico City, which outperformed other host cities thanks to its long list of tourist attractions and museums. Those who head to CDMX will have tons to do aside from just FIFA matches.

In fourth place is Los Angeles. It took fourth thanks to its number of tourist attractions, along with its great weather. Next is Kansas City, Missouri, which rounded off the list thanks to its unique list of tourist attractions and the second-cheapest hotels in the US. It’s Airbnbs aren’t too shabby, either.

Here’s the full rankings from Live Football Tickets:

1. Guadalajara
2. Toronto
3. Mexico City
4. Los Angeles
5. Kansas City
6. Boston
7. Vancouver
8. Atlanta
9. New York City
10. Monterrey
11. Philadelphia
12. Seattle
13. Houston
14. San Francisco
15. Dallas
16. Miami