By Liam Isola The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is officially out, which means fans from abroad can start making their travel plans. Tomorrow (Saturday, December 6th), FIFA will finalize the exact locations and times for all 104 matches. We will discuss when and how to make FIFA World Cup 2026 travel plans.
With the tournament spanning three countries (Mexico, USA, Canada), it is going to be difficult and expensive for fans to see their team in action. Especially so, given FIFA’s dynamic ticket pricing scheme, which has scrapped maximum prices for matches.
The Category 4 tickets, i.e. the worst seats, for the World Cup Final were listed at $2,030 face value. So, fans wanting to go to the World Cup may have to be selective about the locations and matches they choose.
US Men’s National Team Match Locations
Here is the US men’s national team’s group stage schedule:
- SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA – June 12th: USA vs Paraguay
- Lumen Field, Seattle, WA – June 19th: USA vs Australia
- SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA – June 25th: USA vs Slovakia/Kosovo/Turkey/Romania
Ticket prices for these games are mostly above $1000 each. I’d recommend booking flights now for these games.
I’d also recommend booking hotels as soon as possible. Demand is going to continue to rise as the World Cup approaches.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel: Big Group Stage Matches
- Mexico vs South Africa – June 11th – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (World Cup opener)
- Brazil vs Morocco – June 13th – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA or MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- England vs Croatia – June 17th – BMO Field or AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- Uruguay vs Spain – June 26th – NRG Stadium, Houston, TX or Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Norway vs France – June 26th – Gillette Stadium or BMO Field, Toronto, Canada
- Colombia vs Portugal June 27th – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
My pick of the bunch is an Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe showdown in Norway vs France. To get lower prices to see these games, book flights now before the exact locations and times are announced.
Just a few quick searches from Newark Airport to the major airports told me everything I needed to know. The flight prices the day before these games are noticeably higher than on other days already, so you’ll want to lock in your flights ASAP.
Any flight touching U.S. soil has a free 24-hour cancellation period. So, you can lock in a low flight price for both locations. Then, cancel the one you don’t need once FIFA releases the schedule.
Booking a fully refundable flight is another option if you’re unsure if you’ll be able to follow through on your plans come June.
The same goes for booking hotels. I tend to use Booking.com and Airbnb when I’m unsure if I will be able to follow through on my plans. Both websites have plenty of options with free cancellation. Check traditional hotels’ cancellation policies as well.
Again, locking in reasonable flight and accommodation prices will be easier if you make your refundable FIFA World Cup 2026 travel plans before the game locations are revealed on Saturday.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel: Knockout Stage
Planning FIFA World Cup 2026 travel during the knockout stage is more difficult because there is more variability. For example, if Brazil win Group C, their Round of 32 match will be in Houston. However, if they finish in second place, it will be in Monterrey, Mexico.
So, it will be somewhat difficult for fans of specific teams to plan, but the same principle as the group stage applies. If there are two (or three) different paths a team can take, plan for every potential scenario with refundable bookings.
Once the bottom teams get weeded out, the match quality will be much higher, and so too will the stakes. So, expect prices to be higher around the time of the knockout stage. That’s even more motivation to get your plans sorted right now.
Past the round of 16, note that all of the matches will be held in the USA. The quarterfinal (July 9-11) venues are Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA), SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL), and Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO).
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) will host the Semifinals on July 14th and 15th, respectively. The final will be at…MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, on July 19th.
If you’re going to the final, try to stay in New Jersey instead of in NYC at least on the day of the game. Traffic will likely be a nightmare, and public transit to the stadium is severely lacking.
The biggest money-saving tactic is going to be staying with friends or family, because accommodation prices in World Cup cities will be bonkers. While I think group stage ticket prices could fluctuate quite a bit, don’t expect the same to be true for knockout stage games, especially not past the round of 16.
Tips
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of World Cup travel tips:
1. Book flights and accommodations ASAP
2. Use the 24-hour US flight cancellation policy to your advantage.
3. Refundable flights and accommodations are your best friend.
4. Register for the Final ticket draw on FIFA’s website to try to buy group stage tickets.
5. Stay with friends and family if at all possible, it could save you thousands.
6. Check ticket prices for games between two underdog teams in the group stage; prices are likely to go down given lower demand for these games. Also, use the FIFA exchange and third-party websites to find tickets if you can’t get through in the ticket draw.
7. Shop around on Booking.com, Airbnb and on traditional hotel websites for the best deals.
8. Book with points and miles when possible, the cancellation policies are often more relaxed when doing so and it will mean more money in your pocket to splurge on World Cup tickets.
9. If the World Cup atmosphere is more of a priority than seeing specific games, staying in one or a couple of cities throughout the tournament will be much cheaper than moving around. Houston, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Dallas, and Kansas City should be some of the cheapest options.
10. Figure out transportation to matches early on, as public transit to many stadiums is nonexistent. Parking passes will be incredibly expensive, too, so consider rideshare apps. Getting to games a few hours early will help you avoid transit/traffic peak hours and will allow for a more relaxed experience.
11. If you’re traveling between cities, book trains, planes, and rental cars ASAP. Amtrak prices tend to rapidly increase last minute.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel: Enjoy!
This is the most ambitious World Cup yet, with 48 teams and 104 total games. You will be thanking yourself later on for making plans early, as you could quite literally save thousands of dollars. Most of all, enjoy the greatest sporting event in the world!
Before the World Cup, check out this list of 15 European cities where it’s cheap to watch soccer.