Featured image credit: On Location
Premium experiences, hospitality and travel company On Location has been appointed by FIFA to serve as the official hospitality provider of the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA is planning its biggest-ever hospitality programme for the 2026 World Cup, which will see the tournament expand to 48 teams for the first time. The total number of matches will increase to 104, significantly more than the 64 that were played at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
On Location will offer ticket-inclusive fan experience packages for the tournament. Packages will be offered for ‘die-hard’ football fans, groups of families and friends, and to companies hosting guests or employees.
The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 cities, 11 of which will be in the US. They are: Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Boston (Gillette Stadium), Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Houston (NRG Stadium), Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium), Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), Miami (Hard Rock Stadium), New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), San Francisco Bay Area (Levi’s Stadium) and Seattle (Lumen Field).
Three cities have been selected in Mexico: Guadalajara (Estadio Akron), Mexico City (Estadio Azteca) and Monterrey (Estadio BBVA Bancomer). The Canadian cities of Toronto (BMO Field) and Vancouver (BC Place) complete the line-up.
On Location has also agreed a deal with Major League Soccer, which will serve as a hospitality sales agent for the World Cup in the US and Canada.
In February, it was announced that MetLife Stadium would host the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19. The tournament will begin at Estadio Azteca on June 11 and the first US match will be played at SoFi Stadium (pictured) on June 12.
AT&T Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium will each host a semi-final, while the third-place play-off will be held at Hard Rock Stadium. From the quarter-final stage onwards, all matches will take place in the US, and the only round-of-16 matches outside of the US will be at BC Place and Estadio Azteca.
On Location noted that the quality of hospitality features already available at the host venues will offer “more choices than ever before” during the World Cup. Hospitality packages are expected to hit the market later this year.
Fans will have the chance to purchase official hospitality products for individual matches or in bundles, allowing them to attend several matches in one or more cities, during a particular tournament stage, or to follow a specific national team.
On Location president Paul Caine said: “The FIFA World Cup 26 will be transformative for the sport, and we are proud to be working with FIFA to deliver its largest hospitality programme ever and playing a role in football’s growth in North America. More people than ever will have the chance to experience an elevated, modern take on hospitality at one of the world’s greatest events, making memories that will last a lifetime.
“Our official hospitality guests can expect a wide range of packages and prices, premium hospitality and a cutting-edge e-commerce platform, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. These once-in-a-lifetime experiences will celebrate the beautiful game and the unique culture of each host city.”
Mattias Grafström, FIFA secretary general, added: “North America has long been renowned as a global leader in delivering the best sports and entertainment experiences for fans, while the FIFA World Cup is known for offering the most unique and thrilling atmosphere one can experience in a stadium.
“With this groundbreaking agreement, we’re sure that we have found the perfect provider to offer premium experience products for the next World Cup that will appeal to domestic audiences across all three host countries, as well as the millions expected to travel from abroad for this historic tournament in 2026.”
On Location is also the premier and official service provider for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Super Bowl, the Ryder Cup and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
In February, our sister site TheTicketingBusiness.com spoke to On Location’s Will Whiston to discuss the company’s plans for Paris 2024.
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