The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the most extraordinary sporting events in history. For the first time, three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — will co-host the tournament, with 48 teams competing across 16 cities and six weeks of football. It’s a once-in-a- generation trip for many travelers, and the scale of the event means preparation is everything. Whether you’re flying in for a single match or planning a multi-city adventure through all three host nations, the groundwork you lay before you board the plane will define how smoothly the whole experience goes. Here are ten things to prepare before traveling to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
1. Confirm Your Visa and Entry Requirements
With three host countries involved, entry requirements vary widely depending on your passport. Some travelers may need visas for one, two, or all three countries.
If you plan to move between host nations — for example, watching a match in Guadalajara before heading to Los Angeles — ensure your documents allow multiple entries. Always check official immigration websites and apply early, as processing times can take weeks.
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2. Book Accommodation Early
Host cities for FIFA 2026 include some of the most visited destinations in North America: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, and Mexico City among them. During the tournament, demand for hotels and short-term rentals will be exceptional. Prices will rise sharply as match dates approach, and popular options will sell out entirely.
Book as early as possible — ideally as soon as your match schedule is confirmed. Look beyond city- center hotels; apartments and suburban options near public transport links are often significantly cheaper and just as convenient for getting to stadiums.
3. Purchase Match Tickets Through Official Channels Only
FIFA World Cup tickets are exclusively available through FIFA’s official ticketing platform. Third-party resellers and ticket touts are not authorized, and purchasing through unofficial channels puts you at serious risk of buying counterfeit or invalid tickets. In many host cities, using a fraudulent ticket is also illegal.
Register on the official FIFA ticketing portal, set up alerts for ticket releases, and apply during the official sales windows. If your preferred matches sell out, check the resale section of the official platform, where verified tickets from other fans are listed at face value.
4. Take Out Comprehensive Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is non-negotiable for a trip of this scale and distance. Make sure your policy covers medical expenses (healthcare costs in the USA in particular can be very high without insurance), trip cancellation, lost luggage, and any activities you plan to do beyond attending matches.
Read the small print carefully — pay particular attention to event-cancellation clauses, pre-existing medical conditions, and the definition of covered activities. Check whether your policy covers travel across multiple countries if your trip spans the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Keep a digital and physical copy of your policy documents and your insurer’s emergency contact number.
5. Sort Your eSIM Before You Fly
This is one of the most overlooked steps in trip preparation, and one of the most consequential. Arriving in a foreign country without mobile data means no maps, no way to contact your group, no access to your tickets if they’re stored digitally, and no ability to search for help when you need it most.
International roaming through your home carrier is an option, but the costs can be eye-watering — especially over several weeks across multiple countries. A local SIM card works, but you’d need to buy a new one each time you cross a border, which is impractical for multi-country trips.
The smartest solution is an eSIM: a digital SIM you activate on your phone before you leave home, with no physical swap required. BNESIM’s North America Regional plan is built exactly for this — it covers all three FIFA 2026 host countries (the USA, Canada, and Mexico) under a single plan, so your data works seamlessly wherever the tournament takes you, with no border switches and no roaming charges.
6. Plan Your Transport Between Host Cities
The FIFA 2026 host cities are spread across a huge geographic area. Getting from Dallas to Vancouver, or from Mexico City to Boston, requires planning. For shorter hops, domestic flights within the USA are frequent and often affordable if booked early. The US rail network (Amtrak) connects some cities but can be slow. Driving between nearby cities is a popular option, especially in the American Southwest or between Mexican host cities.
Research transport options between each city on your itinerary and book in advance. Prices for flights and car hire during the tournament period will rise sharply as demand increases.
7. Download Essential Apps Before You Leave Home
Don’t wait until you land to set up the apps you’ll rely on. Download everything in advance while you have a reliable Wi-Fi connection. The must-haves include:
• The official FIFA app for match schedules, ticketing, and venue information
• Google Maps or Apple Maps with offline maps downloaded for each host city
• A translation app if you’re visiting Mexico (Google Translate works offline with downloaded Spanish language packs)
• Your eSIM provider’s app for data management
• Rideshare apps (Uber and Lyft operate in all US and Canadian host cities; Uber also operates in Mexico)
• Your bank and travel card apps
8. Notify Your Bank and Sort Your Finances
Let your bank know you’re travelling internationally before you leave, or you risk having your card blocked when you try to use it abroad. Set up a travel-friendly card (options like Wise, Revolut, or Charles Schwab offer low-fee international transactions) to avoid excessive foreign transaction fees.
The USA and Canada are almost entirely cashless, but it’s worth carrying a small amount of local currency for markets, smaller vendors, and emergencies. In Mexico, cash is more widely used, particularly outside major city centers. Withdraw local currency from ATMs rather than exchanging at airports, where rates are typically poor.
9. Check Stadium Rules and Security Policies
Each FIFA 2026 stadium will have its own bag policy, prohibited items list, and entry procedures. Many US venues enforce a clear bag policy — meaning only transparent bags below a certain size are permitted inside. Items like umbrellas, professional cameras, and outside food and drink are commonly restricted.
Check the specific rules for each stadium you’ll be visiting well in advance. Arriving at the gate with a prohibited bag means either going back to your accommodation or leaving the item at a paid storage facility — neither of which you want to be dealing with on match day.
10. Pack Smart for the Climate and the Cities
The FIFA 2026 tournament runs from June to July — summer in North America, but with enormous climate variation between host cities. Miami and Dallas will be hot and humid. Los Angeles and San Francisco are warm but can be cool in the evenings. Vancouver is mild. Mexico City, at high altitude, has cool evenings year-round.
Pack layers, comfortable walking shoes (you’ll cover significant ground on match days), and a compact waterproof jacket. If you’re moving between cities with different climates, a versatile wardrobe beats packing for every scenario separately. Travel light: checked baggage fees nondomestic US flights add up quickly.
Final Thoughts
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is a trip worth preparing properly for. The tournament will be unforgettable — but so will the chaos of arriving unprepared in an unfamiliar city, unable to get online, without a plan for where to go or how to get there. Sort these ten things in advance, and you’re free to focus entirely on football. Start with the essentials: visa, accommodation, tickets, and insurance. Then work through the practicalities: transport, apps, finances, and stadium rules. And make sure your phone is ready to work from the moment you land — because in a tournament this big, across three countries, you’re going to need it.
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