With just over three years to go, the countdown to the biggest soccer tournament in the world officially started Wednesday evening with the unveiling of the visual identity for the FIFA World Cup North America 2026.
FIFA, along with broadcasters Fox Sports and Telemundo Deportes, unveiled the 2026 World Cup logo on Wednesday, May 17, during a brand launch event at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, one of the 16 cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico that will host games during the tournament.
The logo features thick block ‘2’ and ‘6’ numerals stacked on top of each other, with the FIFA World Cup trophy and the FIFA wordmark overtop. It predominantly appears with the numerals in white on a black background, but it can be adapted for a wide range of background colors.
“[This tournament] will be beyond imagination,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said during the launch event. “It will turn these three countries upside down and back again.”
Aside from the main logo, each host city will have its own bespoke brand that “embodies its own world‑renowned culture and heritage, in which millions of international fans will immerse themselves when kick-off comes in 2026,” according to FIFA. The 16 host cities will each host their own event on Thursday, May 18, to unveil their unique local logo to people in that city.
“For the first time in history, an image of the actual trophy and the tournament hosting year is being depicted, forming an innovative design language that anchors the FIFA World Cup™ emblem for 2026 and beyond. The image of the trophy and the year allow for customisation to reflect the uniqueness of each host, while building an identifiable brand structure for years to come.”
— FIFA.com
“The Official Brand introduces fans to the tournament’s new emblem, typeface and striking colour palette, three exciting elements that will bring this tournament to life in the coming months and years,” said Romy Gai, FIFA’s chief business officer. “But it also goes beyond that, as we open countless opportunities to local communities and our partners to integrate their own story. A local football fan, a global superstar or a famous location, the brand will spotlight distinctive aspects and highlight the inclusive and diverse aspect of the first FIFA World Cup featuring 48 teams.”
With the expanded 48-team field, a new 32-team knockout phase and 104 matches overall, FIFA expects the 2026 World Cup will be the “biggest single-sport event ever.” It will kick off sometime in June 2026 and conclude with the final on July 19, 2026, likely to be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The 2026 tournament will be the third time the World Cup has been hosted in North America. Mexico hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986, while the United States hosted in 1994.
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