2026 FIFA World Cup: Your Comprehensive Travel Guide
A complete planning guide to the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Discover key dates, ticket strategy, and how to book the trip of a lifetime.
The biggest World Cup in history kicks off on June 11, and for the first time ever, three countries are hosting together. The United States, Mexico, and Canada will share 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities over 39 days — culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
Dreaming of traveling to the 2026 FIFA World Cup? You're in exactly the right place at the right time. There's still time to put together something unforgettable, and we can help take care of everything for you! From sourcing hard-to-find premium hotel rooms to coordinating private transfers, we handle the details so you can focus on the game.
Whether you’re following Team USA through the group stage, flying to Mexico City for the opener, or building a multi-city itinerary around the knockout rounds, use this comprehensive travel guide to pinpoint games, buy tickets, and start planning.
How Does the 2026 World Cup Tournament Work?
Since 1998, the World Cup has comprised 32 teams. 2026 is the first year that 48 teams will compete for the trophy. The 39-day tournament is divided between the Group Stage and the Knockout Rounds.
Group Stage (June 11–27)
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Every team plays three matches. The top two in each group advance automatically, along with the eight best third-place finishers — meaning 32 teams move on.
Knockout Rounds (June 28–July 19)
A brand-new Round of 32 kicks off the single-elimination bracket, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and the final. If a match is level after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time and then penalties.
Important for planning your trip: a team that wins it all will play eight matches instead of the usual seven. And with two-thirds of the field advancing from the group stage, your team’s tournament life probably doesn’t end after three games.
The Groups
Group A: Mexico · South Africa · South Korea · Czech Republic
Group B: Canada · Bosnia-Herzegovina · Qatar · Switzerland
Group C: Brazil · Morocco · Haiti · Scotland
Group D: United States · Paraguay · Australia · Türkiye
Group E: Germany · Curaçao · Ivory Coast · Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands · Japan · Tunisia · Sweden
Group G: Belgium · Egypt · Iran · New Zealand
Group H: Spain · Cape Verde · Saudi Arabia · Uruguay
Group I: France · Senegal · Iraq · Norway
Group J: Argentina · Algeria · Austria · Jordan
Group K: Portugal · DR Congo · Uzbekistan · Colombia
Group L: England · Croatia · Ghana · Panama
The 16 Host Cities and Stadiums
The tournament is organized into three geographic regions — Western, Central, and Eastern — and teams generally stay within one region during the group stage, which is a major advantage when planning travel.
Western Region
Mexico City — Estadio Azteca (87,523) · The opener. First stadium to host three World Cups.
Guadalajara — Estadio Akron (48,071)
Monterrey — Estadio BBVA (53,460)
Vancouver — BC Place (54,500)
Seattle — Lumen Field (69,000)
San Francisco Bay Area — Levi’s Stadium (70,909)
Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium (70,240)
Eastern Region
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000) · Hosts a semifinal.
Miami — Hard Rock Stadium (67,518) · Hosts the third-place match.
Philadelphia — Lincoln Financial Field (69,328)
Boston — Gillette Stadium (70,000)
Toronto — BMO Field (45,736)
New York/New Jersey — MetLife Stadium (87,157) · Hosts the final.
Central Region
Dallas — AT&T Stadium (92,967) · Largest venue. Hosts a semifinal.
Houston — NRG Stadium (72,220)
Kansas City — Arrowhead Stadium (76,640)
Looking at this list and wondering which city to build your trip around? That’s exactly the kind of decision we help with. Reach out to us, and we’ll match the right city, the right matches, and the right hotels to what you’re looking for.
Key Dates to Note
Mark these on your calendar. These are the important matches and milestones throughout the entire World Cup.
June 11 — Opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 12 — USA’s first match: vs. Paraguay at SoFi Stadium,
Los Angeles
June 12 — Canada’s first match: vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at
BMO Field, Toronto
June 27 — Final group stage matches
June 28–July 3 — Round of 32
July 4–7 — Round of 16
July 9–11 — Quarterfinals
July 14 — Semifinal 1 — AT&T Stadium, Dallas
July 15 — Semifinal 2 — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
July 18 — Third-place match — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
July 19 — THE FINAL — MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
Host Nation Group Stage Schedules
Team USA (Group D)
June 12 vs. Paraguay · SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 19 vs. Australia · Lumen Field, Seattle
June 25 vs. Turkiye · SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Mexico (Group A)
June 11 vs. South Africa · Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 18 vs. South Korea · Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 24 vs. Czech Republic · Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Canada (Group B)
June 12 vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina · BMO Field, Toronto
June 18 vs. Qatar · BC Place, Vancouver
June 24 vs. Switzerland · BC Place, Vancouver
FIFA World Cup Tickets: What You Need to Know
Acquiring tickets has been one of the trickiest pieces of this tournament to navigate. What you need to know before going is that official FIFA inventory through the primary portal has been selling out in minutes during each release window. According to FIFA's official pricing structure, the 2026 tournament uses dynamic pricing for the first time, with face values starting around $60 for early group-stage matches and climbing as high as $6,730 for the final.
Your best options as of early June are the FIFA Official Resale Marketplace, where verified tickets are bought and sold at market prices (FIFA takes a 15% fee from both buyer and seller), and third-party marketplaces like StubHub, SeatGeek, and Vivid Seats, all of which guarantee authenticity.
Important: Every ticket must be linked to a FIFA ID — a free digital account you create at FIFA.com. You’ll also need the FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app available on the Apple App Storeand Google Play to display your ticket on match day. No paper ticket, no entry.
Securing the right ticket for the right match is crucial, and it's where most fans get overwhelmed. Reach out to the Jetset & Travel team, and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Key considerations before booking your 2026 World Cup Trip
Beyond your match ticket, here are the four essentials every World Cup traveler needs to lock in: accommodations, stadium transfers, airport transfers, and dining.
Book Your hotel in the city
Match days are long. Add summer temperatures, and you'll be wiped out by the final whistle. The last thing you'll want after a long day is to travel far back to your hotel. We highly recommend booking directly in the city for a seamless day.
However, it's important to note that premium hotel rooms and suites are limited; nearby hotels are booking on paid-in-full, non-cancellable terms. That's the reality of a tournament at this scale: flexibility costs more, and the best properties won't offer it. We'll walk you through what's available and what the commitment looks like before you decide.
Hotel Transfers to and from the stadium
We strongly advise against driving to matches. Parking is extremely limited, traffic is unpredictable on match days, and rideshare surge pricing can be significant. We arrange reliable transfers, so you get there on time and get back without the stress.
Airport transfers
Arriving in an unfamiliar city during a major international event is hectic. We coordinate airport-to-hotel transfers, so the trip starts smoothly the moment you land.
Dining
Popular restaurants near stadiums book up fast on match days. Booking a reservation will be mandatory to ensure a seat. When planning your trip with us, we can offer restaurant recommendations and handle reservations, so you're not scrambling for a table before kickoff.
Hotels: Book Now or Regret It Later
Premium hotel inventory across all 16 host cities has been reserved by sponsors, federations, and corporate partners for years. What’s left for individual travelers is limited — and what is available often comes with minimum-stay requirements and inflated rates.
We’ve been preparing for this tournament well in advance and have secured access to curated hotel options across every host city, from luxury properties to well-located boutique stays. Whether you want a few nights in one city or a multi-stop itinerary that moves with the tournament, we can put together accommodations that match your style.
The host cities in Mexico — Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey — tend to offer significantly better value for food and lodging compared to U.S. host cities, which is worth considering if you’re flexible on which matches you attend.
Looking for something beyond a standard hotel stay? Jetset & Travel offers VIP hospitality packages that include dedicated food & beverage service, and transfers. We highly recommend this for people who want the full World Cup atmosphere without any of the logistics headaches.
Getting Into the Stadium: Match Day Essentials
What you need: A valid digital ticket in the FWC2026 Mobile Tickets app, plus a valid photo ID. The FIFA Fan ID card (a physical keepsake available inside stadiums) is a fun bonus, but not required for entry.
Arrive early. FIFA recommends arriving at least three hours before kickoff. Security screening is thorough, and re-entry isn’t allowed once you leave. Outside food and beverages are prohibited.
Fan Zones: The World Cup Without a Ticket
Every host city will have an official FIFA Fan Festival — large-scale public viewing areas with giant screens, live entertainment, food, and the full match-day atmosphere. Most are free to attend, though some offer premium upgrades.
standout Fan Zones
New York City is setting up fan zones across all five boroughs, with the Queens location holding up to 10,000 fans. Rockefeller Center will transform into a Fan Village from July 6 through the final.
In Atlanta, the Fan Festival takes over Centennial Olympic Park.
Dallas opens Fair Park for every match day from June 11 through July 19.
Even if you have match tickets, the fan zones are worth checking out on your off days. They’re a great way to find a community atmosphere outside the stadium.
How to Watch (When You’re Not at the Stadium)
English: FOX and FS1 carry every match. FOX is free over-the-air with an antenna. FOX One ($19.99/month) is the dedicated streaming option.
Spanish: Telemundo and Universo handle all 104 matches, with Peacock streaming everything for $7.99–$11/month.
Cord-cutter routes: YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream all carry the full lineup.
Teams to Watch
France and Spain are the consensus favorites. Spain won Euro 2024 and has a generational talent in 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. France’s Kylian Mbappé is chasing the all-time World Cup scoring record and needs just five goals to break it.
England has one of the deepest squads in the tournament. Argentina is the defending champion but faces questions about an aging core — and whether Lionel Messi, now 38, will suit up for what would be a record-tying fifth World Cup.
For the host nations: the United States drew a manageable Group D and will benefit enormously from home support. Mexico gets the tournament’s opening match on home soil. Canada is still looking for its first-ever World Cup win and has the pace of Alphonso Davies to make it happen.
Our Tips for Planning Your Trip
There’s no single right way to do it. Here are a few approaches we’re helping our clients build around.
1. Follow your team
Pick the group-stage cities where your team plays and build a trip around those dates. If they advance, you adjust.
2. Pick a city and stay put
Choose a host city you’ve always wanted to visit, book a hotel, and attend whatever matches come through.
3. Go for the big moments
The semifinals (Dallas on July 14, Atlanta on July 15) and the final (New York on July 19) are the marquee experiences.
4. Multi-city adventure
Combine a few destinations into a longer trip. The geographic clustering helps — Seattle and Vancouver are close together on the West Coast, and Boston, New York, and Philadelphia are all within a few hours of each other on the East Coast.
However you want to experience it, we’re here to help you put it together, from matching the right cities and matches to your schedule, to securing accommodations and handling the logistics.
Plan Your World Cup Trip with Jetset & Travel
The 2026 World Cup is a once-in-a-generation event happening in our backyard. 48 teams, 16 cities, three countries, and 39 days of the best soccer on the planet. If you’re thinking about going, the time to plan is now. Hotels are filling up, ticket availability is tightening, and the best options go to the people who move first.
Ready to start planning for the biggest sports event of the year? Reach out to us at jetsetandtravel.com/contact
Let’s build your World Cup trip!
