Travelling to a World Cup is the sort of trip people remember for decades. Even if football is not your entire life, the atmosphere alone is worth the journey. Host cities become festival zones, fans from every corner of the world mix freely, and every match feels like an event in its own right. There is very little else in sport that compares.
With the 2026 World Cup being hosted across the USA, Canada and Mexico, more people than ever are considering turning the tournament into a once‑in‑a‑lifetime travel experience. It is also a very different World Cup from those held in a single country. Distances are bigger, planning matters more, and a bit of foresight can save both money and stress.
This guide walks through how tickets work, how to get there from different parts of the world, how people usually travel between host cities and what to expect once you start putting the pieces together.
How World Cup tickets actually work
World Cup tickets are sold directly by FIFA, and understanding this early on makes life much easier. Tickets are released in official sales phases rather than all at once, usually starting around a year before the tournament kicks off. You need to create a FIFA ticketing account and register your interest before sales open, after which you apply for the matches you want.
For most people, this feels more like a ballot than a traditional purchase. High‑profile matches such as knockouts, semi‑finals and the final are massively oversubscribed, so flexibility goes a long way. Applying for group games, different venues or alternative dates generally improves your chances.
There are typically several ticket options. Some fans go for individual matches, others choose venue‑specific tickets, and some apply to follow their national team throughout the tournament. Prices vary significantly depending on match stage and seat category, but planning ahead gives you the best chance of avoiding inflated resale prices later on.
Deciding where to base yourself
One of the biggest differences with the 2026 World Cup is its scale. Matches are spread across multiple cities in three countries, which offers flexibility but also requires more thought.
Most fans end up doing one of three things. Some choose a single city and attend every match there, soaking up the local atmosphere without constant travel. Others base themselves in a region, moving between nearby host cities. A smaller number follow their national team as it progresses, sometimes crossing borders in the process.
There is no perfect approach, but distance matters. This is not a tournament where you can casually take a two‑hour train ride between venues. The sheer size of North America means travel days need to be built into the plan.
Getting to the World Cup from different parts of the world
For fans travelling from the UK and Europe, flights to North America are frequent and competitive. Major hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Dallas, Atlanta and Mexico City all have strong connections. Prices tend to rise quickly once match schedules are confirmed, so flexibility becomes valuable. Flying midweek, considering alternative arrival airports and booking open‑jaw flights, arriving in one city and leaving from another, can make a noticeable difference to the cost.
Travellers from Australia and New Zealand face much longer journeys, so most turn the World Cup into an extended trip rather than a short break. West Coast cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Vancouver are usually the most straightforward entry points. Booking early is particularly important here, as prices can climb sharply.
For fans coming from South America, Mexico and the southern United States are often quicker and more affordable than northern cities. Airports such as Miami, Houston and Mexico City are common gateways, with frequent onward connections.
Getting around during the tournament
Once you arrive, internal travel becomes the main challenge. Domestic flights will be how most people move between host cities. The US, Canada and Mexico have extensive internal flight networks, but demand around match days pushes prices up quickly. As soon as your match schedule is confirmed, booking intercity flights is usually the safest approach.
Train travel exists but is far more limited than in Europe. Certain routes, such as Boston to New York, Los Angeles to San Diego, or Toronto to Montreal, work well and can be pleasant alternatives to flying. Long‑distance buses are available almost everywhere and can be cheap, but journey times are long and best suited to travellers with flexible schedules.
Car hire can be useful, particularly in parts of the US where stadiums are located outside city centres. That said, match‑day traffic, parking costs and local driving conditions should not be underestimated.
Where to stay during a World Cup
Accommodation is one of the first things to sell out once tickets are confirmed. Hotels near stadiums often disappear within hours, and prices can rise sharply. Booking cancellable accommodation early is one of the most reliable strategies, even if plans are not fully finalised.
Staying slightly outside host cities is often good value, particularly if there are strong transport links. Mixing hotels with short‑term rentals can also help if you are staying longer or moving between locations. Being right next to the stadium is rarely essential. In most cities, proximity to public transport matters far more.
Crossing borders between host countries
A rare feature of the 2026 World Cup is that it spans three different countries. That means some fans will cross international borders during the tournament.
For British passport holders, visa‑free entry is usually available for the USA, Canada and Mexico, but travel authorisation requirements may still apply and should be checked well in advance. Border crossings take time, especially on match days, and flying is often more straightforward than driving when moving between countries.
Budgeting for a World Cup trip
A World Cup is not a budget holiday, but careful planning makes a big difference. The biggest costs tend to be flights, accommodation, match tickets and food and drink in stadium areas.
Saving money often comes down to timing rather than sacrifice. Booking flights and accommodation early, travelling midweek where possible and avoiding last‑minute decisions usually has more impact than cutting back once you arrive.
Is it worth it?
For most people who go, absolutely.
A World Cup is about more than football. It is about sharing moments with fans from all over the world, seeing cities at their most vibrant, and being part of a global event that only comes around every four years.
Planning a tournament spread across continents takes effort, but that effort is usually paid back many times over. If you have ever thought about going to a World Cup, 2026 is one of the most flexible and accessible chances to do it.