Right, so the United States, Canada, and Mexico are hosting the 2026 World Cup. It’s the first time three nations have hosted together, which sounds neat until you consider what that means in terms of understanding how to navigate three visa systems, three currencies, and travel between countries while they are hosting the busiest sporting event on the planet. 48 teams instead of 32, that is. 104 matches instead of 64.
Almost six weeks of soccer in 16 cities. If you hope to go, you need to start NOW, as tickets are already a nightmare and hotels are filling fast. I’m going to take you through all of it without the regular travel guide complexities. Real talk about the cost and real advice about what works and what doesn’t.
When and Where This Thing’s Happening
June 11th to July 19th, 2026. The opening match is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11th. The final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19th. The US is hosting most of it with 78 matches. Mexico and Canada each get 13 matches. Everything from the quarterfinals onwards happens in the US.
The Cities and Stadiums
Let me go through where you’ll actually be watching games.
United States (11 cities)
MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey has a capacity of 82,500. This stadium is hosting the final. It’s, like, technically New Jersey, but everyone just calls it New York. The area is going to be totally packed.
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles has a capacity of 70,000. This place cost $5 billion to build, and it looks like it. They’re hosting a quarterfinal here.
AT&T Stadium in Dallas can seat 80,000. This one is hosting nine games, more than anywhere else. One of the semifinals will be held here. Jerry Jones built this thing with the retractable roof and that humongous video screen.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta which has a capacity of 71,000. The other semifinal’s happening here. Atlanta is a great city with decent public transit.
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami can seat 65,000. The weather’s perfect, the beaches are close, and lots of international fans will be here.
Lumen Field in Seattle seats 68,000. Seattle is a soccer town, and the vibes will be sensational.
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia seats 67,000. Historic city, good food, prices not as outrageous as in New York.
Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City seats 76,000. Middle of the country. Perhaps your best bet for tickets and cheap hotels.
Gillette Stadium in the Boston area holds 65,000. It’s actually 30 miles outside Boston in Foxborough. Public transit doesn’t go there, so you’ll need to figure out rides.
Houston at NRG Stadium holds 72,000. Texas hospitality, hot weather, and good Mexican food.
Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area holds 68,500 fans. It is in Santa Clara, 45 minutes south of SF. Expensive area, but really nice.
Canada (2 cities)
Toronto maxes out at 30,000 at BMO Field. Canada’s first match is here, on June 12th. Tiny stadium = super hard-to-get tickets.
BC Place in Vancouver holds 54,000. Has a retractable roof. Beautiful city with mountains everywhere.
Mexico (3 cities)
Estadio Azteca in Mexico City seats 87,000. This fabled stadium was the site of World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986. Now it is the first stadium ever to stage matches at three World Cups. The tournament starts here.
Estadio Akron at Guadalajara holds 46,000. Modern stadium, home to Chivas.
Estadio BBVA at Monterrey fits 51,000. They call it “El Gigante de Acero” which means “The Steel Giant”.
Getting Tickets (Good Luck)
Two ticket sales have already happened. The Visa presale was September 10-19, only for Visa cardholders. Then the Early Ticket Draw ran from October 27-31 with a lottery. If you missed both, you still have chances.
- Random Selection Draw starts after December 5th, when they do the tournament draw. Once you know who’s playing where, you can enter the lottery for specific matches.
- Last sales happen in spring 2026. First-come, first-served for whatever’s left. Don’t count on much.
What Tickets Cost
This is painful. FIFA is using variable pricing, which is just surge pricing with a different name.
- Group stage matches start at $60 for terrible seats way up high. Good seats go up to $500.
- Round of 32 is $75 to $800.
- Quarterfinals run $150 to $1,500.
- Semifinals are $300 to $3,000.
The final? The cheapest seats are $2,000. The best seats hit $6,730. And that’s the official price. The resale market already has final tickets listed at $5,600 and up. Some premium seats are going for $100,000. Not a typo.
The Resale Market
FIFA opened an official resale marketplace on October 2nd. If you missed the official sales, this is your only legit option. The problem is that prices are insane. US team matches in LA start at $1,500 on resale. Stay away from random websites or social media sellers. Scams are everywhere. Stick to FIFA.com/tickets, or you’re going to get burned.
The Visa Nightmare
Each country has different rules. Having a visa for one doesn’t get you into the others automatically.
United States
The vast majority will need ESTA or a B-2 tourist visa. ESTA applies to people from the 42 Visa Waiver countries, such as most of Europe, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. Apply online for $21; it’s approved in 72 hours on the dot usually. Let you stay 90 days. For everyone else, there is the B-2 Tourist Visa. You complete Form DS-160 online (there’s a fee of $185), you schedule an interview at a United States embassy, go to the interview, and hope that they approve it.
Wait times are brutal, though. Some countries are at 200+ days. Colombia is 700 days. Turkey is 560. Mexico is over 200. If you need a US visa and don’t have one, apply RIGHT NOW. The good news is FIFA worked out a priority system called FIFA PASS. If you have World Cup tickets, you can get faster appointments.
Canada
An eTA costs CAD $7 if you’re from a visa-exempt country. Apply online; it’s usually a quick approval.
A visitor visa takes months if you need one. Having a US visa doesn’t automatically get you into Canada.
Mexico
Mexico’s easier. Lots of nationalities can enter visa-free. If you have a valid US, Canadian, UK, Japanese, or Schengen visa, you usually don’t need a Mexican visa. You need an FMM (Tourist Card). Sometimes you get it on the plane, sometimes at the border. Free for most visitors, good for 180 days.
Where to Stay
Hotels are expensive and filling up fast.
Budget ($50-100/night)
Hostels, budget chains, Airbnb shared rooms. In Kansas City, you might find something. In NYC or LA? Forget it.
Mid-Range ($100-200/night)
Holiday Inn, Courtyard Marriott, decent Airbnbs. This is your best bet. Book now before prices double.
Luxury ($250+/night)
High-end hotels, fancy Airbnbs. You’re looking at $300-500 in most cities, more in NYC and LA.
Airbnb vs Hotels
Airbnb’s cheaper if you’re splitting with friends. Hotels have reliable service and better locations. Compare both. Look at hotels near transit lines that go to stadiums, not just near the stadiums. You’ll save money and still get there fine.
Getting Around
United States
NYC has the subway. $2.90 gets you anywhere. For MetLife Stadium, you need NJ Transit from Penn Station.
LA has a metro, but you’ll probably use Uber. Traffic’s terrible, so leave early. Renting a car works, but parking sucks.
Other cities vary. Dallas, Houston, and Miami need a car or ride-sharing. Seattle, Boston, and Philadelphia have decent public transit.
Flying between cities gets expensive in summer. Book early.
Canada
Toronto has a great subway. Vancouver’s SkyTrain works well. Both cities are easy to walk around.
Mexico
Mexico City’s Metro is cheap but packed. Uber works great. In Guadalajara and Monterrey, just use Uber. Stick to official taxis or verified apps for safety.
What This Actually Costs
Three realistic budgets.
Budget Fan ($1,500-$2,500)
Flights are $300-1,000 depending on where you’re from. Hotels at $50-80/night for 4 nights are $200-320. Food at $30/day for 5 days is $150. Local transport: $100. Tickets are $200-500 for the group stage. Total around $1,650-2,570. This gets you one or two group stage matches, cheap accommodation, and basic food.
Mid-Range Fan ($3,000-$5,000)
Flights are $600-1,200. Hotels at $150-200/night for 5 nights are $750-1,000. Food at $60/day for 6 days is $360. Transport $200. Tickets are $800-1,500 for knockout rounds. Entertainment: $300. Total around $3,000-4,560. Better seats, nicer hotels, a knockout round match, and some sightseeing.
Luxury Fan ($7,000-$15,000+)
Business class flights are $2,000 to $4,000. Hotels: $300-500/night for 7-10 nights, $2,100-5,000. Food at $100+/day for 10 days is $1,000+. Transport: $500. Tickets are $2,000-5,000 for the semifinals or final. VIP stuff $1,000+. Total $8,600-16,500+. Premium seats, luxury hotels, fine dining, the works.
Safety Stuff
United States
Pretty safe. Use common sense at night, don’t flash expensive things, and watch your surroundings. Some neighborhoods are sketchy, so ask locals.
Canada
Very safe. Toronto and Vancouver are super tourist-friendly.
Mexico
The host cities themselves are generally safe. Use official taxis or Uber. Do not go to unfamiliar areas at night. Use the hotel safe for valuables. Heavy security will be on hand at tourist areas during the Cup.
General Tips
Get travel insurance. Medical care in the US costs a fortune without insurance. Keep passport copies separate from the real thing. Watch for ticket scams near stadiums. Stay hydrated, especially in Texas and Southern California in summer.
Things to See
Can’t cover everything, but here are highlights.
NYC has Times Square, Lady Liberty, Central Park, the 9/11 Memorial, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Tons of museums.
LA has the Hollywood Sign, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, and Universal Studios.
Miami offers South Beach, the Art Deco District, Wynwood Walls, the Everglades, and Little Havana. Hot nights, bright colours, loud music.
Toronto has the CN Tower, or perhaps the Harbourfront, the Distillery District, and, like, a million museums. It’s clean, friendly, and full of different cultures.
Vancouver is all about scenery. Lofty mountains stand between them and the ocean, including Stanley Park, the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and Granville Island. Stunning from every angle.
Mexico City gives you the pyramids of Teotihuacan, Chapultepec Park, the Frida Kahlo Museum, and the Zócalo. The food is worth the trip.
Guadalajara boasts a historic centre, tequila country on its outskirts, and mariachi music seemingly around every corner. It feels very traditionally Mexican in the best way.
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Food You Need to Try
The USA has regional stuff. New York pizza, LA tacos, Philly cheesesteaks, Texas BBQ, Miami Cuban food, and New England clam chowder. Every city has its own thing. Canada has poutine (fries slathered in gravy and cheese curds — it’s better than it might sound), Montreal bagels, and fresh seafood in Vancouver.
Mexico has actual tacos (not like what you get at Taco Bell), birria, mole, street food on every corner, and fresh ceviche. Mexican food in Mexico is the bomb. Vegetarian or vegan? Big cities have tons of options.
Money Stuff
Three currencies. US Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Mexican Peso. Use ATMs when you arrive. Airport exchange places rip you off. Credit cards work everywhere and give decent rates, but check if yours charges foreign fees. In the US and Canada, you can use cards for almost everything. Mexico: carry some cash for street food and small shops.
Tipping: The US and Canada tip 15-20% at restaurants and a couple of bucks for drinks and taxis. Mexico does 10-15%.
Daily food budget: $30-40 for eating cheap, $60-80 for mid-range places, and $100+ for nice restaurants.
Tips for First-Timers
The language is English in the US and Canada, and Spanish in Mexico. Tourist areas in Mexico have English speakers, but learn basic Spanish phrases. Phone/Internet: Get an international plan or a North America eSIM that works in all three countries. You need data for everything.
Weather: Hot in June and July. Texas, Arizona, and Southern California are just sticky. Bring sunscreen, light clothes, sunglasses, and a hat. Canada and Seattle are milder. Mexico City is really nice in the summer. E
lectrical outlets: All three use 110V with Type A/B plugs. Europeans/Asians/Africans need adapters.
Tipping: Americans tip for everything. Restaurants, bars, hotels, valets. It’s expected. Budget for it.
Match Day Tips
Show up early. Security takes forever. Arrive 2-3 hours prior to kickoff.
What you can bring: small bags only, no large backpacks, no outside food or drink, no selfie sticks, no umbrellas. Check specific stadium rules. Download the ticket on your phone.
Fan parks: Most cities will have official fan zones with big screens, food, and drinks. Great if you don’t have tickets that day.
Getting there: Stadiums get mobbed. Transit will be packed. Surge pricing from Uber will be through the roof. Budget extra time and money.
Why This One’s Special
First World Cup with 48 teams. First across three countries. First in North America since 1994. The scale is insane. 104 matches, 16 cities, millions of fans. This is an opportunity for Americans, Canadians, and Mexicans to watch the World Cup without having to fly across the ocean. For the rest of us, it’s three countries in a single trip. Every city will feel different. Kansas City matches won’t be anything like Mexico City matches. LA crowds are totally different from Seattle crowds.
Start Planning Now
I’ll be real with you. This is going to be chaotic. Tickets are hard to get. Hotels are booking up. Visa waits are long. But that’s what makes it exciting. If you’re serious, start today. Don’t wait. Apply for visas now. Search for flights and hotels, even if those tickets aren’t yet a certainty. Join lotteries when they open. It just gets harder and more expensive the longer you wait. Yeah, it costs money.
Yeah, planning sucks. But when else are you going to see the World Cup this close? When else can you drive or take a relatively short flight to see the best 22 players in the world battle for soccer’s ultimate prize? You will be telling your grandkids about this. The madness, the cost, and the planning stress won’t make a difference when you’re in that stadium cheering on your team. Stop reading and start planning. The World Cup doesn’t wait.
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