Here is a comparison of distinctions between the 1994 World Cup, the first hosted by the United States, and the 2026 edition set across the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to the final on July 19:

1994: Admission costs started at $25 up to $75 for group stage matches, with the opening game between $40 and $120, and the championship at the Rose Bowl ranging from $180 to $475.

2026: FIFA's December ticket release showed prices from $140 to $2,735 for initial rounds, and $4,185 to $8,680 for the final, incorporating dynamic pricing based on demand. The final's maximum was later adjusted to $10,990 in April.

1994: The event marked the final World Cup with 24 teams before the field grew to 32 in 1998.

2026: The tournament has expanded once more to 48 teams with a new round of 32 added. Finalists will compete in eight matches instead of seven.

1993: FIFA then required fields measuring 68-by-105 meters but permitted stadiums to retain narrower dimensions.

2026: Stadiums have now been adjusted to comply fully with the standard.

1994: Attendance reached a record 3.59 million, averaging 68,991 across 52 games.

2026: With double the matches this year, total attendance is projected between 6 million and 7 million.

1994: Nine stadiums hosted the tournament, all in the U.S., with the opener at Soldier Field in Chicago.

2026: Sixteen venues are in use: 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada. Quarterfinals onward will occur in the U.S. Chicago is absent after declining due to insufficient financial guarantees from FIFA.

1994: Five NFL sites were utilized, including the former Giants Stadium, Foxboro Stadium, Pontiac Silverdome and RFK Stadium.

2026: The 11 U.S. sites are all current NFL stadiums featuring extensive luxury suites and premium seating. Soldier Field, the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Citrus Bowl and Stanford Stadium from 1994 remain but are unused this time.

1994: Teams competed without breaks despite hot and humid conditions at times.

2026: Heat and humidity will return, yet matches will include three-minute water breaks each half for coaches to hold brief strategy talks.

1994: Sides could make two substitutions, with a third allowed only for an injured goalkeeper or one receiving a red card. A third substitute became standard in 1998, and a fourth in extra time arrived in 2018.

2026: Since 2022, teams may use five substitutes, with a sixth possible in extra time and another for concussion replacements at any point.

Player names appeared on jerseys starting in 1994 and are now standard. Numbers became mandatory in 1950, remained fixed from 1954, appeared on shorts from 1974 and on jersey fronts from 1994.

1994: A local organizing committee managed arrangements through 2022, led by Alan Rothenberg, who promoted the sport nationwide as U.S. Soccer Federation head.

2026: FIFA now directs the tournament, with president Gianni Infantino prominently engaging U.S. President Donald Trump, including awarding him a FIFA peace prize.