How Many Times has USA Hosted the World Cup?

The USA will be one of three hosts of the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.

The USA hosted the 1994 World Cup. / Getty/Bob Strong

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Running from June 11 to July 19, it will be the first edition ever hosted by three countries. The only other time the tournament was shared was in 2002, when South Korea and Japan co-hosted.

While the three-nation setup is new, the World Cup coming to American soil is not.

Here’s a look at how many times the USA has hosted world soccer’s biggest event.

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How Many Times has USA Hosted the World Cup?

USA '94 was certainly spectacle. / Getty/AFP

Before 2026, the United States had hosted the World Cup only once—back in 1994.

That tournament ran from June 17 to July 17 and was staged across nine stadiums nationwide.

Despite soccer not being a major sport in the U.S. at the time, the event shattered expectations. It became the most commercially successful World Cup ever and set attendance records that still haven’t been touched.

More than 3.5 million fans passed through the turnstiles, with an astonishing average crowd of nearly 69,000 per match.

On the field, Brazil lifted the trophy after beating Italy on penalties in the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, following a goalless draw through extra time. The host nation’s run ended in the round of 16, where the U.S. fell to the eventual champions.

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What Other Major Soccer Tournaments has the USA Held?

The USA hosted the 2025 Club World Cup. / IMAGO/Icon Sportswire

Though the USA has only hosted the World Cup once (soon to be twice), it has long been a hub for major international sporting events—unsurprising given its world-class infrastructure.

The Olympic Games have been held in the U.S. eight times—four Summer (1904, 1932, 1984, 1996) and four Winter editions (1932, 1960, 1980, 2002)—a record no other nation can match. It will add two more in the coming years, with Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics and Salt Lake City staging the 2034 Winter Games.

In soccer, the U.S. has hosted the Concacaf Champions League final on multiple occasions when MLS clubs have reached the showpiece, as well the Copa América twice—first in 2016 and again in 2024.

Most recently, it staged the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, where Chelsea defeated PSG in the inaugural 32-team edition at MetLife Stadium.

Beyond soccer, the country also holds some of the world’s biggest annual sporting events, including tennis’ U.S. Open—one of the four Grand Slams—and major golf tournaments such as the U.S. Open, PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup.

In short, while World Cups have been rare on American soil, the U.S. is no stranger to hosting sport on the grandest international stage.

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