Films and series to better understand the World Cup host cities

Opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup in the USA
Reproduction/TV Globo
The 2026 World Cup brings together 48 teams in 16 host cities spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
But the tournament's stages go far beyond football: many of these cities served as the setting for films and series that helped build their cultural identities.
To help fans get into the mood and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of each region, g1 brought together films and series that were filmed in these cities or that place them at the center of their narratives. Check out the list below:
United States (11 Headquarters)
Atlanta - "Atlanta" (2016-2022)
Donald Glover in a scene from the series 'Atlanta'
Disclosure
The series follows Earnest "Earn" Marks (Donald Glover), a young man who drops out of college and decides to manage the music career of his cousin, rapper Paperboi.
Set in the hip-hop industry of Atlanta, Georgia, the production mixes unusual situations and surreal elements to discuss complex issues about race and the entertainment market in the North American context.
Boston - "The Departed" (2006)
Martin Scorcese on the set of "The Departed"
Disclosure
The film transforms the city of Boston into the scene of a tense war between the local police and organized crime.
In the plot, young police officer Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) infiltrates the Irish mafia that runs the streets of the region, while a criminal goes the other way and acts as an informant within the corporation.
The production uses urban architecture and the gray atmosphere of Boston to build a game of cat and mouse where the protagonists' double lives are in constant danger.
Dallas - "JFK - The Question That Doesn't Want to Shut Up" (1991)
Scene from "JFK - The Question That Doesn't Want to Shut Up"
Disclosure
The city that was marked in world history as the site of the assassination of former American president John F. Kennedy.
In the plot, prosecutor Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) decides to investigate the behind-the-scenes of the crime because he does not accept the official version of the authorities.
The production uses real city scenarios and conspiracy theories surrounding the political attack to build a courtroom thriller that questions the secrets of the American government.
Houston - "Apollo 13 - From Disaster to Triumph" (1995)
Plot follows three American astronauts on their way to a mission on the Moon.
Disclosure
The drama recreates the historic and tense space mission commanded from Houston, a city that It houses the headquarters of the NASA control center.
In the story, three astronauts suffer an explosion on their ship on the way to the Moon and begin a race against time to return to Earth before the oxygen runs out.
The production popularized the phrase "Houston, we have a problem" and highlights the engineering work and mobilization on Texas soil to save the crew.
Kansas City - "Kansas City" (1996)
"Kansas City" unfolds themes such as love, crime, race and politics in the city of Kansas City in the 1930s.
Disclosure
The plot uses the real scenario of political effervescence and control of machines electoral elections in the city of Kansas City, in the 1930s.
The story follows Blondie (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who kidnaps the wife of an influential local politician in an attempt to use her as a bargaining chip to save her husband, captured by a powerful crime boss in the region.
The production explores the streets, vested interests and corruption that shaped the city on the eve of the elections.
Los Angeles - "La La Land: Singing Seasons" (2016)
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in 'La La Land: Singing Seasons'
Disclosure
The musical transforms the landscapes and tourist attractions of Los Angeles into the setting for the dilemmas of a couple who try to balance romance with the search for professional success in the mecca of cinema.
In the plot, pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and budding actress Mia (Emma Stone) fall in love while facing the challenges and high competitiveness of the city's cultural industry.
The production explores the vibrant atmosphere of Los Angeles as a place that welcomes artistic dreams and disappointments.
Miami - "Moonlight" (2016)
André Holland and Trevante Rhodes in a scene from 'Moonlight'
Disclosure
The drama presents an intimate and poetic portrait of the outskirts of Miami, far from the tourist glamor usually associated with the coastal city.
The story follows the different phases of Chiron's life, played by actors Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders and Trevante Rhodes, showing his childhood marked by bullying, identity crises in adolescence and adulthood marked by the consequences of experiences in his youth.
The production uses the light and atmosphere of Miami communities to discuss themes such as masculinity and social vulnerability.
New York/New Jersey - "A Rainy Day in New York" (2019)
Scene from 'A Rainy Day in New York', by Woody Allen
Reproduction
The film is a love letter to New York, a ubiquitous setting in Woody Allen's filmography, where the filmmaker often turns the metropolis into a central character in his stories.
In the plot, young Gatsby (Timothée Chalamet) plans a romantic weekend in the city with his girlfriend, Ashleigh (Elle Fanning), but the plan takes unexpected turns.
The production captures the energy, chance encounters and intellectual atmosphere characteristic of Allen's vision of Manhattan.
Philadelphia - "Philadelphia" (1993)
Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in a scene from the film Philadelphia
Disclosure
The drama uses Philadelphia's courts to build a powerful narrative about justice and prejudice.
In the plot, Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) is a promising lawyer fired from a traditional city office after his bosses discover that he has the HIV virus.
He hires Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) to sue his former employers in a historic trial that forces the conservative local society to face homophobia and discrimination.
San Francisco - "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2006)
The Pursuit of Happiness
Disclosure
The drama uses the urban setting of San Francisco to illustrate the difficult journey of a family man in search of stability.
In the story, Chris Gardner (Will Smith) becomes a single father after the departure of his wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), and needs to take care of Christopher (Jaden Smith), his only 5-year-old son.
He accepts an unpaid internship at a stock brokerage in the hope of a future hire, but the lack of income causes them both to be evicted.
Seattle - "Grey's Anatomy" (2005- x)
Actress Ellen Pompeo gives life to the protagonist Meredith Gray in a scene recorded in the city of Seattle.
Disclosure
The production transformed the city of Seattle into the epicenter of television's longest-running medical drama by setting its stories in the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital (later renamed Gray Sloan Memorial).
The plot follows the routine of Meredith Gray (Ellen Pompeo) and her colleagues who begin their careers as residents at the institution.
Mexico (3 Venues)
Drone image shows stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico, one of the venues for the 2026 World Cup, which will also be hosted in the United States and Canada
Ivan Arias/Reuters
Mexico City - "Roma" (2018)
Scene from the Mexican film 'Roma'
Disclosure
The acclaimed film by director Alfonso Cuarón uses the streets of Mexico City in the 1970s to construct an intimate and social chronicle based on memories of his own childhood.
The plot follows the routine of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young indigenous woman who works as a nanny and maid for a middle-class family in the Roma neighborhood.
The production uses the historical reconstruction of the Mexican capital, marked by political conflicts and urban transformations, as a backdrop for the collective and personal changes that affect the residents of the house.
Guadalajara - "Doña Herlinda y su hijo" (1985)
Film "Doña Herlinda y su hijo" (1985)
Disclosure
The film uses the traditional and conservative society of Guadalajara in the 1980s as the backdrop for a pioneering LGBTQIA+ comedy of manners.
Directed by Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, the plot follows Doña Herlinda (Guadalupe del Toro), a controlling mother who pretends to ignore the romance between her son, doctor Rodolfo (Arturo Meza), and music student Ramón (Marco Antonio Treviño).
The production explores the mansions and routine of the Mexican city to show how the local family structure dealt with appearances, forcing a fake heterosexual marriage while the couple continued to live under the same roof.
Monterrey - "Ya no estoy aquí" (2019)
The acclaimed drama uses the popular neighborhoods and peripheral areas of Monterrey to portray the counterculture of the "Cholombiana" musical aspect, a peripheral movement that marked the youth of the region.
The story follows Ulises (Juan Daniel García Treviño), the leader of a peaceful gang passionate about the slow rhythm of cumbia, who is forced to flee to the United States to save his life after a misunderstanding with a local cartel.
The production explores the urban landscapes and accents of Monterrey to build a narrative about belonging, exile and the violence that transformed the city.
Canada (2 Venues)
Second opening party of the 2026 World Cup at the Toronto Stadium, in Canada
REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Toronto - "The Life of Erica" (2009-2011)
Scene of series "The Life of Erica"
Disclosure
The series uses the city of Toronto as a central character that shapes the protagonist's journey of maturity and time travel.
In the plot, Erica Strange (Erin Karpluk) gets the chance to revisit and correct her biggest regrets from the past with the help of mysterious therapist Dr. Tom (Michael Riley).
Without hiding its Canadian identity, the series covers real attractions in the region, transforming emblematic tourist attractions such as the Casa Loma castle and the famous Toronto Island into stages for the character's crises and discoveries on the streets of the city.
Vancouver - "Deadpool" (2016)
Location of the film "Deadpool"
Disclosure
Although the story takes place in a generic and fictional American metropolis, the films are a real urban ode to Vancouver, hometown of Ryan Reynolds, who plays the title character.
The action scene that opens the first film was shot on the Georgia Viaduct (a famous viaduct in the city center).
Other landmarks include the historic streets of Gastown, the traditional gateway of Chinatown and the industrial alleys of the port region.

Source: G1