Miami is the most Latin host city of the 2026 World Cup — and it will feel like it. Seven matches at Hard Rock Stadium, including the third-place play-off on July 18. A city where football is already a religion, where every café shows the game, and where the party never really stops. Here is the guide.

Hard Rock Stadium: the stage for the bronze final

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens hosts seven matches, including a quarter-final and the third-place play-off. It holds around 65,000 fans and is one of the most modern stadiums in the tournament, with a canopy roof that shades most seats from the Florida sun. It is about 30 minutes north of downtown Miami by car or shuttle, and public transport is limited — plan your journey in advance, and expect heavy traffic on match days. Rideshares surge, so the stadium shuttles from downtown are the smartest option.

The Latin football culture: a home game for half the world

Miami is home to huge communities from across Latin America and the Caribbean, and during the World Cup the city will feel like a home game for half the teams in the tournament. Expect watch parties in Little Havana with Cuban coffee and dominoes, Argentine asado gatherings, Brazilian samba in the bars of Wynwood, and Colombian flags everywhere. The city's Fan Festival at Bayfront Park, on the downtown waterfront, will be one of the most vibrant in the tournament — free entry, giant screens, and a crowd that dances between goals.

The heat and the rain: Miami in June and July

Miami in June and July is hot, humid and stormy: temperatures around 32°C with humidity above 70%, and afternoon thunderstorms that arrive fast and hard. Drink water constantly, wear light clothing, and carry a compact rain jacket — the storms pass quickly, but they soak you. Evening matches are far more comfortable than afternoon ones. And remember: the sun in Florida is fierce, even on cloudy days. Sunscreen is not optional.

Where to stay: South Beach, Wynwood or downtown

South Beach is the classic Miami base: beach, nightlife, and Art Deco hotels, but it is expensive and a long way from the stadium. Wynwood is better for football fans: street art, craft breweries, and a younger crowd, with good bars for watching matches. Downtown, near Bayfront Park and the Fan Festival, is the most practical base, with hotels at every price and easy access to the stadium shuttles. Budget travellers should look at hostels in South Beach or hotels in Coral Gables, a quieter neighbourhood with good transport links.

Between matches: beaches, Little Havana and the Everglades

Miami rewards fans who take a day off. Spend a morning on South Beach, an afternoon in Little Havana — the Domino Park, the cigar shops, the ventanitas serving Cuban coffee — and an evening in Wynwood's galleries and breweries. A day trip to the Everglades, an hour west, offers airboat rides and alligators. And the food: Cuban sandwiches, Argentine steaks, Peruvian ceviche and Haitian griot, all within a few miles of each other.

Frequently asked questions

The Inter Miami effect: Messi's city

Miami's football boom owes much to Inter Miami and Lionel Messi, whose arrival turned the city into a global football destination. The club's pink shirts are everywhere, the stadium in Fort Lauderdale draws fans from across the Americas, and the city's football culture has grown younger and louder. During the World Cup, expect Messi's shadow over everything: murals, shirts, and endless debate about whether the greatest player of all time will be watching from the stands.

How many matches does Miami host? Seven, at Hard Rock Stadium, including the third-place play-off on July 18. How do I get to the stadium? Stadium shuttles from downtown are the best option. Where should I stay? Downtown near Bayfront Park, or Wynwood for nightlife. How hot is it? Around 32°C with high humidity and afternoon storms. Is there a Fan Festival? Yes, at Bayfront Park, free entry.