Many U.S. cities will be hosting games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup – but will any of them be in Michigan?
The short answer is no, but Michigan World Cup fans can still find games a relatively short drive or flight away.
The World Cup, taking place from Thursday, June 11 through the final on Sunday, July 19, will have games in 16 North American cities, 11 of them in the U.S. The closest host city Michiganders can reach is Toronto, which is hosting five group-stage games in June. And depending on where you are in the state, the closest U.S. host city is either Kansas City, Missouri (six games), or Philadelphia (six games).
Team USA will begin its World Cup journey against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday, June 12. The U.S. then heads to Seattle on June 19 for a game against Australia before heading back to Inglewood to round out their group stage games against Turkey.
The final match will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Is there a World Cup game in Michigan?
Though Pontiac, was one of nine U.S. host cities for the 1994 World Cup, Michigan was left off the map for the 2026 World Cup.
The now-demolished Pontiac Silverdome was the first indoor stadium to host a World Cup match, hosting four group-stage matches in 1994. That included the U.S.’s 1-1 draw against Switzerland on June 18, 1994, marking the first-ever World Cup game to be played indoors.
Despite other Detroit and Detroit-adjacent venues like Ford Field or Michigan Stadium that could serve as World Cup locations, Detroit did not bid to become a host city, effectively removing Michigan from a long list of potential host sites early in the process.
U.S. World Cup matches
The U.S. will play three group-stage matches, all on the West Coast, to kick off their World Cup run.
- Friday, June 12: USA vs Paraguay, 9 p.m. ET (SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA, Fox).
- Friday, June 19: USA vs Australia, 3 p.m. ET (Lumen Field, Seattle, Fox).
- Thursday, June 25: USA vs Turkey, 10 p.m. ET (Sofi Stadium, Inglewood, Fox).
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is there a World Cup game in Michigan? Schedule, locations, stadiums
