After years of anticipation, the FIFA World Cup 2026 arrives in the Americas this summer, with Miami serving as one of the 11 U.S. host cities. Hard Rock Stadium will be the home to seven matches between June 15 and July 18, including a quarterfinal and the bronze medal match.
There will be 48 nations competing across North America in what will be the most expansive tournament the game has ever seen with nearly one million visitors alone expected to descend on South Florida for the games.
For a city with one of the largest Latin American communities in the country, hosting the World Cup at home for the very first time is just as much a global sporting event as it is a homecoming. Here’s everything you need to know.
RECOMMENDED: Our full guide to the FIFA World Cup 2026 across the U.S.
Where is the FIFA World Cup being held in Miami?
Located at 347 Don Shula Drive in Miami Gardens, Hard Rock Stadium will serve as Miami’s host venue—though FIFA will officially refer to it as Miami Stadium for the duration of the tournament. For decades, it has been South Florida’s premier stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins and the University of Miami Hurricanes football teams, and host to multiple Super Bowls, the annual Formula One Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament.
Situated directly on the Miami-Broward County line, it is perfectly located to draw fans from both Miami-Dade and Fort Lauderdale for the seven matches that will seat roughly 65,000 guests per match.
Miami Gardens is a largely residential suburb, and not a tourist destination in its own right with limited dining or nightlife in the immediate stadium vicinity. The upside of Hard Rock’s county-line location is that Downtown Miami and Downtown Fort Lauderdale are almost equidistant, with both roughly 18 miles in opposite directions. The same goes for South Florida’s two major airports—Miami International (MIA) to the south and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) to the north—both roughly 15 miles away. What those distances actually mean in real time depends entirely on when you get in the car. South Florida traffic is notoriously unpredictable and brutal, so budget a lot of extra time on match days.
How do I get to Hard Rock Stadium?
Miami-Dade County is providing complimentary game-day shuttles for all ticketed fans, running from four pickup locations including Brightline’s Aventura Station, Golden Glades Intermodal Station, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Metrorail Station and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel. Getting yourself to one of those hubs is on you, but getting from there to the stadium is free, and tickets will be verified before you board.
If you’re driving, parking must be pre-purchased through FIFA’s official site before you arrive—there is absolutely no day-of-purchasing at the gate, and each ticketed fan is limited to one spot. Prices vary by match and run steep: Group-stage games start at $175 per spot, and later-round matches go up to $250. Some lots require nearly a half-mile walk to the gates, so factor that into your timing.
Another good tip is Freebee. The free on-demand electric transportation service is worth downloading for getting around between hotels, fan zones and restaurants that operate within specific zones across South Florida, including a new, larger fleet in Miami Gardens. The catch: It works within a neighborhood, not between them. You can use it to move around Miami Gardens, but not to get from, say, Downtown Miami to Miami Gardens. Download the app, request a ride and it shows up at no charge.
Can I still get tickets to the World Cup in Miami?
Yes, but it’s going to cost you. There is some very limited inventory left through FIFA’s site, with a handful of $600 ticket options and some limited hospitality packages. Those VIP offerings start at $1,750 a game for group-stage matches (and can run upwards of $5K per person) and $2,100 for the bronze medal game. On the secondary market it’s a touch easier on the wallet, with resale sites having group-stage tickets starting around $330 to $500 for earlier games as of mid-May, and marquee matchups like Brazil vs. Scotland were starting at $1,600 to $2,100 and up. Prices fluctuate and change daily.
It is worth noting, FIFA is actively encouraging guests to stick to the official marketplace for all purchases to steer clear of the various risks that often come with third-party resellers.
Where should I stay in Miami if I’m going to the World Cup?
If you’re in town just for a match or two with and want the least amount of headaches, stay close. Hard Rock Stadium sits on the Miami-Broward County line, and staying in the North Miami-Dade and South Broward area puts you 10 to 20 minutes away without the stress.
JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa (19999 W Country Club Dr, Aventura) is the luxury hotel of the area with a full spa and championship golf, all about eight miles from the stadium. The Hilton Miami Aventura (2885 NE 191st St, Aventura) is the practical stay and close enough to Brightline’s Aventura Station that you can skip driving on game day entirely. For sand and South Broward, the Diplomat Beach Resort (3555 S Ocean Dr, Hollywood) puts you on the beach roughly 15 minutes from Hard Rock. If you’re open to crossing the county line into Fort Lauderdale, W Fort Lauderdale (401 N Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd) is a beachfront option with an oceanfront scene that runs late, making it a solid option for those who want to hang by the beach without the Miami traffic.
If you’re staying in South Florida for more than a couple of days, the world is your oyster—popular Miami neighborhoods like South Beach, Brickell or Coconut Grove all work. Just be prepared to commute anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour (or more!) to get to the stadium on game day.
Plus, several hotels have created packages just for the matches. The Goodtime Hotel (601 Washington Ave, Miami Beach) has a Stadium Staycation package available on every match day with breakfast, a complimentary clear stadium-approved bag and a Strawberry Moon pool party with a massive projector screen for fans watching from the hotel. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort (6801 Collins Ave, Miami Beach) is opening its doors to the public for the first time with Train Like a Champion, a FIFA-inspired 45-minute fitness class series every Wednesday through July 22 ($39, includes valet). The resort’s two World Cup hotel packages, the Champion’s Getaway (from $543) and the Family Legacy Stay (from $481), bundle recovery, personalized training, daily breakfast and match-day goody bags.
For a more classic Miami Beach stay, the legendary Fontainebleau Miami Beach (4441 Collins Ave) needs no introduction, and Faena Miami Beach (3201 Collins Ave) offers a luxe five-star experience that takes over an entire city block. If you’re going big (and with a group) then head to the 1 Hotel South Beach (2341 Collins Ave), which has a $375,000 quarterfinal package that bundles Club Level Suite match access with ocean-view suites, private dining, spa treatments and dedicated concierge service for groups.
What else should I do while I’m in Miami?
Aventura Mall (19501 Biscayne Blvd, Aventura) is Florida’s largest mall and worth a full afternoon whether or not retail is your thing. It’s fully indoors and air conditioned, making it a nice stop before or after a match since it’s only 15 minutes from the stadium. It boasts more than 300 retailers, five anchor stores, a 30,000-square-foot Eataly and 50-plus restaurants including Jacinta, Pubbelly Sushi and Motek.
If you’re near Miami Beach, Lincoln Road (Miami Beach, FL 33139) becomes a full World Cup hub from June 11 through July 17 with game-day activations, community watch parties, the official FIFA World Cup 26 Miami Countdown Clock and soccer gear available at Adidas, Nike and Culto Football.
For the beach, Hollywood Broadwalk and Sunny Isles Beach are both a quick drive from the stadium. Hollywood’s 2.5-mile Broadwalk is the more active pick with tiki bars, seafood spots and rentable bikes, while Sunny Isles is quieter and more big resort leaning.
What’s the World Cup match schedule in Miami?
All seven matches take place at Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens.
Sunday, June 15
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia vs. 🇺🇾 Uruguay at 6pm ET
Saturday, June 21
🇺🇾 Uruguay vs. 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde at 6pm ET
Tuesday, June 24
🇧🇷 Brazil vs. 🏴 Scotland at 6pm ET
Saturday, June 27
🇨🇴 Colombia vs. 🇵🇹 Portugal at 7:30pm ET
Friday, July 3
Round of 32: Group J Winner vs. Group H Runner-up at 6pm ET
Saturday, July 11
Quarterfinal: TBD at 5pm ET
Friday, July 18
Third Place (Bronze) Match: TBD at 5pm ET
How else can I get in the World Cup fun without attending a match?
The official FIFA Fan Festival runs at Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami from June 13 through July 5 with free admission and expects up to 30,000 fans daily. The 436,000-square-foot waterfront spot screens every match live on giant LED displays, with a 10,000-person amphitheater hosting concerts, cultural shows and daily programming between games.
More fan zones are scattered across the city. The Miami Beach World Cup Fan Zone at Lummus Park runs on select match days with LED screens and interactive soccer activations. Bayside Marketplace Plaza hosts a community watch zone downtown throughout the tournament, June 11 through July 19, and Brickell City Centre’s lawn runs its own outdoor screening series on key match dates.
For a longtime popular viewing party in South Florida, head to Fritz & Franz Bierhaus (60 Merrick Way, Coral Gables), which has been the city’s favorite soccer bar for nearly 30 years. It features movie-theater-sized screens, long communal tables, massive steins of imported drafts and a room that fills elbow-to-elbow with South American expats, European transplants and Miami soccer-loving regulars. Throw Social Miami (2335 N Miami Ave, Wynwood) is hosting a LATINHOUSE Soccer Fest takeover in its 35,000-square-foot venue, featuring all matches on a massive LED screen, meet-and-greets, DJ sets and VIP cabanas. Also, the forever jovial spring break classic the Clevelander South Beach offers a 20-foot LED screen plus over 40 monitors spread across the property, including the poolside Beach Club and rooftop terrace.
For the full Fan Festival programming schedule, check miamifwc26.com.
