There are trips that remain in the memory for a lifetime. For a football fan, the World Cup is one of those experiences. The 2026 World Cup promises to be an event of a completely new dimension.
For the first time in history, the tournament will be held in three countries (United States, Canada and Mexico) with the participation of a total of 48 teams. This means more games, more cities, more logistics and many more opportunities for a real football journey. If you have long dreamed of going to the moon dance, now is a good time to start preparing.
Why the 2026 World Cup will be special
The tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026 and will be the largest in FIFA history: 104 matches instead of the usual 64. The final will be held at MetLife Stadium (for the duration of the tournament, New York New Jersey Stadium) in the United States. The opening match will be played at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, a venue that already hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Championships.
The games will be played in 16 cities, and among the most interesting venues are the following:
- Mexico City Stadium;
- BC Place Vancouver;
- Toronto Stadium;
- Los Angeles Stadium;
- Miami Stadium;
- Dallas Stadium;
- Seattle Stadium;
- Houston Stadium;
- Atlanta Stadium;
- Boston Stadium.
This means that the trip to the tournament is not just a sporting event, but a full-fledged trip across North America.
Key question: the price of tickets for matches
If you are planning a trip, the main advice is to make a budget in advance. Official sales have been progressively made through FIFA and demand has been enormous. According to FIFA, the number of tickets exceeded 500 million and a significant portion of them were sold long before the tournament. The expensive and large-scale world cup advertising It also affected ticket prices.
The approximate cost of tickets for fans will be as follows.
- Group stage. For these matches, tickets can be purchased from $120-350 USD and up. The more interesting the matches are, the more expensive the tickets will be;
- 1/8 and 1/4 final. At these stages, you shouldn’t expect to buy tickets for less than $250-900;
- Semifinal matches. To participate in these matches, you will have to pay between 600 and 1800 dollars for 1 ticket;
- End. For the final match, tickets cost at least $1,000. The premium category costs several thousand dollars each.
There are also hospitality packages. Its cost is $650 per game, but this is already a format for a very serious budget. Important: the purchase of tickets is only through official FIFA channels. The resale market for each championship attracts many scammers.
Complex logistics: a great challenge for travelers
The main challenge of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the distance between countries and cities. This is not a championship within a single country, where you can travel by train in a couple of hours. For example, it takes approximately 5 hours to fly from Mexico City to New York, 4.5 to 5 hours from Toronto to Los Angeles, and more than 6 hours from Vancouver to Miami.
The mistake of many fans is trying to cover too many games in different regions. It makes much more sense to choose one of the three groups.
- Western route. Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Suitable for those who want to combine football with a road trip;
- Central route. Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Dallas, Houston. Maximum football scenario;
- Eastern Route. Toronto, Boston, New York, Miami, Atlanta. Ideal for combining matches and urban tourism.
You can make your choice easier by knowing in advance which games you plan to attend and seeing which ones can be transferred to regular television.
When to book accommodation
The short answer is right now. Many of the advantageous offers may no longer be available, as thousands of fans have planned their visit in advance.
It is best to book accommodation where free cancellation is available. This will allow you to adjust your route after purchasing tickets for specific soccer games.
Visas and documents: confusing rules
CM 2026 in three countries makes the document issue critical. Entry rules for the US, Canada and Mexico will need to be considered. If you have a European passport, the conditions may differ for each country.
The United States and Canada deserve special attention: permits or visas can take time. Don’t count on having a ticket to the game automatically simplifies entry.
Final thoughts
A trip to the 2026 World Cup requires much more preparation than a normal soccer outing. It is necessary to take into account tickets, visas, flights between countries and advance reservation of accommodation. But if you plan ahead, this moon dance can be not just a football trip, but one of the most spectacular trips of life.
