If there’s a romance between America and football, it’s a thorny one. Doubts over the seriousness of soccer were only validated at the previous US-hosted FIFA World Cup in 1994, when Diana Ross monumentally missed the opening penalty as she cavorted around the pitch, singing I’m Coming Out. Recently, ahead of its second hosting, FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s decision to award a gleaming inaugural Peace Prize to Donald Trump raised eyebrows about the organisation’s political neutrality. Teasingly dubbed the ‘Appease Prize’, it further strained the country’s shaky footing in the tournament.
SPHERE's Guide to the World Cup 2026 Host Cities
Words by
Izzy Schaw Miller
23rd March 2026
SPHERE kicks off an alternative guide to the five major World Cup 2026 host cities this summer, as North America braces itself for the largest sporting spectacle of all time.
El Cortés in Mexico City.
But the beautiful game’s power to unite is as mighty and enduring as the sport itself. Excitement is mounting as 16 cities across the US (hosting 78 of 104 matches), Canada and Mexico are set to electrify over the summer of 2026 as they welcome up to an estimated six million international visitors to the largest World Cup in history.
Avid fan, casual observer or planning to skip the games in style? Here’s where to stay, where to dine and what to do in five major host cities this summer, from the kick-off in Mexico City on 11 June to the grand finale near New York on 19 July.
Mexico City
Where to Stay
El Cortés in Mexico City.
Opening doors this March, El Cortés offers a refined refuge for football enthusiasts and urban explorers alike in its pristinely restored 1915 presidential residence. Clad in the cream colours of Paris, the building’s chamfered exterior blends seamlessly into the historic, bohemian character of the Roma Norte district. With just 15 keys, each unlocking its own leafy patio, the hotel makes a serene escape from bustling markets and afternoon showers. While Mexico City rains more than London, with summer its wettest - downpours often interrupt otherwise sunny, temperate days, making it possible to plan activities (or siestas fit for a presidente) accordingly.
Where to Dine?
Baldío’s waste-free bar.
Hailing from Austria’s much-fêted restaurant, Steirereck, Luc Liebster is the chef behind El Cortés’ streetside restaurant, Lotti, firing up polished Swiss twists on local dishes. Exposed wooden beams and draped white tablecloths create a warmly rustic atmosphere, as light spills in through open, ornate-railed windows. For breakfast, female-led bakery Panadería Rosetta serves up a sublime pastry hit a few doors down, alongside its renowned Italian restaurant, Rosetta, which is housed in a graceful neoclassical setting opposite.
Delicious pan dulce at Panadería Rosetta.
British chef Douglas McMaster closed the doors of Hackney’s pioneering Silo to spread its zero-waste message beyond the walls of one restaurant. Now ensconced in Condesa at Baldío, he’s proving garbage bins are obsolete (the Aztecs didn’t use them, after all) with onion skins or lime peels reincarnated into sauces and other complex flavourings. For a nightcap, Handshake Speakeasy in the Juárez district promises a trip back to the dusky days of the Prohibition era, albeit with meticulously crafted infusions and top-notch service.
What to Do
The unmistakable, vibrant exterior of artist Frida Kahlo’s home-turned-museum.
It might be tempting to while away your Mexico City adventure in the comforting confines of Roma and Condesa, but that would be like leaving a knockout game at halftime. Pretty pockets of the city beyond these well-trodden areas are plentiful, from upscale dining in Polanco, home to both the revered Pujol and Quintonil, to the vibrant San Rafael neighbourhood, awash with budding galleries and retro theatres.
Mexico City Stadium – the very spot Maradona scored the ‘Hand of God’ goal against England – lies in Coyoacán. This colourful neighbourhood is also home to the houses of Frida Kahlo and her lover, Leon Trotsky; both have been turned into fascinating museums that are well worth a visit.
Los Angeles
Where to stay
The exterior of The Georgian at sunset.
Along Santa Monica’s sandy, palm-tree-lined shore, The Georgian stands proudly. Newly refurbished and wearing an exterior of elegant baby blue, the hotel delivers a tranquil stay with a splash of LA splendour. Inside, Hollywood glamour dazzles in moody, feathery hues, while the soothing swish of the Pacific Ocean keeps you grounded. Its alfresco terrace, adorned with drooping crimson petals and pastel yellow and pink seating, makes for a well- spent, sun-dappled afternoon, before you head inside for affairs of a more hedonistic nature in the plush, velvety surrounds of the dining room.
Where to Dine
A delicious dish served at Meteora.
Korean barbecue ranks among LA’s hottest culinary treats, with Park’s BBQ serving up some of its finest flame-licked dishes. New to the scene, Restaurant Ki comes with a 10-seater counter and the serious credentials of chef Ki Kim, of Atomix and Jungsik fame. For the adventurous, Meteora’s branch-drenched exterior hints at its ambitions, as lofty as the rocks it’s named after. From smoky murasaki yams to mandarin sorbet crowned with tigernut mousse, it hits the culinary mark.
What to do
The David Geffen Galleries at LACMA.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) recently underwent a futuristic facelift, with the Pritzker Prize–winning architect Peter Zumthor knocking down its sprawling buildings to create a single-floor, amoeba-like structure on legs. Now, the museum is transforming into a world of its own. Further expansion this April will bring a theatre, plazas and restaurants to the site. Exhibitions remain at its heart, with Fútbol Is Life, a celebration of the FIFA World Cup’s arrival in the city, on display until 12 July.
This year also marks 100 years of the iconic Route 66, so it’s only fitting to take America’s most storied road trip up The Mother Road from Santa Monica, whose rugged desert terrain and neon signs evoke nostalgia – even if you’ve never set foot (or pedal) there before.
Toronto
Where to stay
Exterior of The Hazelton Hotel.
The choice of stay for Toronto is as breezy as the whispering air from nearby Lake Ontario, with The Hazelton Hotel Toronto’s intelligent swankiness fit for a 21st-century king or queen. Rooms and suites are equipped with walk-in wardrobes, heated floors and honeymoon-worthy granite bathrooms, with either a walk-out or Juliet balcony overlooking the upscale Yorkville neighbourhood. Though venturing outside might feel like a chore, the hotel’s luxurious cinema, bliss-inducing spa and critically acclaimed ONE restaurant and bar will more than keep you busy. If you do get a moment to spare, there’s always the football set on display on ONE’s wraparound patio.
Where to dine
Inside Antylia.
Canada’s most populous city boasts a vibrant, multicultural food scene. Playful dishes such as rasta pasta or sushi pizza abound in Little Jamaica or Little Italy, while well-orchestrated food tours through Chinatown and Kensington Market ensure you fit local delicacies such as peameal bacon sandwiches and Canada’s beloved butter tart into the itinerary.
It’s worth checking out Toronto’s laid-back, industrial Distillery District, which remains uniquely uncommercialised, welcoming independent local eateries only. For an occasion that demands classier surrounds, the recently opened Antylia mesmerises with a statement flower-light installation and whimsical Latin American dishes.
What to do
Red-brick exterior in the Distillery District.
Nature runs deep in the Canadian psyche, so a stroll or cycle along the scenic shoreline or a swim at the sandy Bluffer’s Park just outside the city will make you feel like a native in no time. For a culture fix, the Luminato Festival is lighting up the city from 3-28 June and marking its 20th anniversary with music, art, theatre and immersive experiences.
Miami
Where to Stay
Poolside at The Shelborne By Proper.
When a $100 million budget and expert designers come together, the results should sparkle – and The Shelborne By Proper on South Beach Miami does just that following its ADC & Tuneu-led renovation. Once a little tired from its Sinatra-and-Marilyn heyday, the refreshed design balances eclectic heritage with modern Miami. Curved sofas, soft pinks and oranges, and clean marble and wood create an effervescent, tropical mood. Outside, ice-blue umbrellas and mint-striped sunbeds complete poolside days in utmost style.
Where to dine
Lobster puttanesca. ©Ruben Cabrera.
With 70 per cent of the population identifying as Hispanic or Latino, especially Cuban, sampling a vaca frita or pastelito is essential to the Miami experience. Start with a pressed Cuban sandwich at Playa Café, then move to Cafe La Trova to move to the rhythm of nightly live music. For one of the city’s latest openings, Massimo Bottura’s Torno Subito serves pastas and martinis alongside all the theatricality expected from a celebrity chef.
What to do
A night out at Selva.
Known for its glittering nightlife, Miami’s rooftops come alive as day gives way to night, including Selva above Amazónico, Japanese Yamashiro Miami and the MediterrAsian MILA. If daytime is when you thrive, rent a scarlet cabana at Faena Miami Beach for a decadent spot to gaze at the emerald ocean, or join the see-and-be-seen crowd frolicking at Thomas Keller’s The Surf Club. For something more energetic, the city opens its 131-acre Miami Freedom Park in April, the new home of Inter Miami CF, a golf course, adventure park and more.
New York
Where to Stay
Park Avenue entrance to the Waldorf Astoria.
Whether it’s portion sizes, gas-guzzling trucks or the ability to dream, Americans are known for going gloriously big on everything they do. That’s why it’s only right to stay in the crème de la crème in the Empire State. Measuring up for the task is the Waldorf Astoria, uniquely occupying its own block in the wealth-laden business district. Moving from one lavishly soaring room to the next, reaching the pièce de résistance, Peacock Alley Bar, feels like waltzing into New York’s Wharton-esque drawing room, with its grand gold centrepiece clock, smooth piano player and suitably suave guests sipping martinis.
Where to dine
Chuletas Can-Can (pork chops cooked in Puerto Rican style) at Kabawa.
From egg-yolk yellow taxis whirring past to the gratifying Helvetica font of the subway, grittiness and excitement pervade New York. For the cosiest wine bar in town, Elvis is found in the trendy NoHo neighbourhood, among its homely red-bricked, laddered buildings. Nearby, Kabawa serves inventive Caribbean dishes, with equally imaginative cocktails in the adjoining Bar Kabawa, while ‘culinary monster’ Lee Ha-sung’s farm-to-table Oyatte in Murray Hill is one of the most anticipated openings this year.
Tartlets at Radio Bakery.
Crossing the bridge to Brooklyn, Green Point is becoming cooler by the day, with the artisanal Radio Bakery there to prove it. On warm nights, head to Red Hook Tavern for sizzling burgers, then kick back outside at Compound Art & Sound Gallery for cool drinks, board games, and a hip, masterfully curated soundtrack.
What to do
Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett.
Bright lights, fast cars – the city that never sleeps is alive on every level, whether it’s off-the-radar live music at subterranean Aman Jazz Bar or a lofty dip in Bathhouse’s rooftop pool. This summer, the 82nd Whitney Biennial will inject an artistic high to the city, alongside open-air events from Prospect Park concerts to Rooftop Cinema Club screenings. Once you inevitably need a rest from it all, The Roundtree Amagansett in the Hamptons offers home-away-from-home cottages in American dream suburbia, where even the crashing waves seem well-tempered. The Virginia Hotel in Cape May is an equally blissful escape and within reach of the New Jersey stadium, helping you remember why you came in the first place.
