The 2026 World Cup will be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, making it a unique opportunity to explore multiple countries while enjoying the tournament.
In marked contrast to the last World Cup in Qatar, where it was possible to watch every game in the tournament, there is little chance for the groundhoppers amongst us to get two games in a day. However, it will not stop you from checking once the match kick-off times are finalised.
Multiple companies will provide packages for your stay during the World Cup. However, I have always looked forward to putting my own trip together.
The first part of planning a World Cup Trip is how to get there. With the tournament being split between three countries, which are significant in land mass, there are various cities where you can start your trip.
The organising committee created three regions for the group stages, which reduced travel for the fans of the participating teams, who will not have to travel coast to coast.
- Group A Atlanta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
- Group B Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver
- Group C Atlanta, Boston, Miami, New Jersey/New York, Philadelphia
- Group D Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Vancouver
- Group E Houston, Kansas City, New Jersey/New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
- Group F Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Monterrey
- Group G Los Angeles, Seattle, Vancouver
- Group H Atlanta, Guadalajara, Miami, Monterrey
- Group I Boston, New Jersey/New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
- Group J Dallas, Kansas City, San Francisco Bay Area
- Group K Atlanta, Guadalajara, Houston, Mexico City, Miami
- Group L Boston, Dallas, New Jersey/New York, Philadelphia, Toronto
Combine that with the possibility that your team may not play its opening game six days after the tournament starts; if you usually plan your travel well in advance, it can be a bit of a gamble if you want to bag those cheap flights or, for those who have been saving up their points, those reward flights.
That said, while every host city has an International Airport nearby, the various hub airports are worth considering if you want to book ahead of the draw. Hence, you can book the flight into the US and work out any internal travel once the draw is made. These include Atlanta, Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The trans-Atlantic route is well-served by many airlines from the main UK airports. I have listed the Airline Alliance in brackets for you frequent flyers:
| British Airways (One World) | ||||
| London Heathrow | ||||
| Atlanta | Austin | Baltimore | Boston | Chicago |
| Dallas | Denver | Houston | Las Vegas | Los Angeles |
| Miami | Nashville | New Orleans | New York | Philadelphia |
| Phoenix | Pittsburgh | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle |
| Washington DC | Montreal (Can) | Toronto (Can) | Vancouver (Can) | Mexico City (Mex) |
| London Gatwick | ||||
| New York | Orlando | Tampa | Vancouver (Can) | Cancun (Mex) |
| American Airlines (One World) | ||||
| London Heathrow | ||||
| Boston | Charlotte | Chicago | Dallas | Las Vegas |
| Los Angeles | Miami | New York | Philadelphia | Phoenix |
| Raleigh | ||||
| Aer Lingus (One World) | ||||
| Manchester | New York | Orlando | ||
| Virgin Atlantic (Sky Team) | ||||
| London Heathrow | ||||
| Atlanta | Boston | Las Vegas | Los Angeles | Miami |
| New York | Orlando | San Francisco | Seattle | Tampa |
| Toronto (Can) | Washington DC | |||
| Manchester | ||||
| Atlanta | New York | Orlando | ||
| Delta Airlines (Sky Team) | ||||
| London Heathrow | ||||
| Atlanta | Boston | Detroit | Las Vegas | Minneapolis St Paul |
| New York | Orlando | Salt Lake City | Seattle | |
| London Gatwick | ||||
| New York | ||||
| Edinburgh | ||||
| Atlanta | Boston | New York | ||
| United Airlines (Star Alliance) | ||||
| London Heathrow | ||||
| Chicago | Denver | Houston | Los Angeles | New York |
| San Francisco | Washington DC | |||
| Edinburgh | ||||
| Chicago | New York | Washington DC | ||
| Air Canada (Star Alliance) | ||||
| London Heathrow | ||||
| Calgary (Can) | Halifax (Can) | Montreal (Can) | Ottawa (Can) | Toronto (Can) |
| Vancouver (Can) | ||||
| Edinburgh | ||||
| Toronto (Can) | ||||
| Aeromexico (Sky Team) | ||||
| London Heathrow | Mexico City (Mex) | |||
| West Jet | ||||
| London Heathrow | Calgary (Can) | |||
| London Gatwick | Halifax (Can) | |||
| Edinburgh | Calgary (Can) | Halifax (Can) | Toronto (Can) | |
| JetBlue | ||||
| London Heathrow | Boston | New York | ||
| London Gatwick | Boston | New York | ||
| Edinburgh | New York | |||
| Norse | ||||
| London Gatwick | Los Angeles | New York | Orlando | |
| Air Transat | ||||
| London Gatwick | Toronto (Can) | |||
| Edinburgh | Toronto (Can) | |||