Posted on by Eva Cobham

Going To The World Cup? Here’s What You Need To Know About Travelling To The USA, Canada And Mexico

If you’re heading off to watch the World Cup IRL, how lucky are you. Taking place from 11 June to 19 July, the tournament is shaping up to be an edge-of-your-seat affair, with Spain the current favourites, but it’s all to play for as the two rivals of France and England are also in contention.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that this year’s edition requires an exciting trip across the Atlantic, whether that’s to Canada, the USA or further south to Mexico. It’s a chance to soak in a new city and culture as much as the footie atmosphere.

With a big event to focus on during the holiday, it’s wise to do a little preparation ahead of time. To that end, here’s a handy guide of travel advice to take in before jetting away. That way, when kick-off draws near, you’re already winning.

The main things to know

 The tourist spots of each country are likely to be busier during the World Cup, especially the host cities. These are:

  • USA: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area.
  • Canada: Toronto, Ontario, Vancouver and British Columbia
  • Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey

 The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have the latest World Cup travel advice on their website. Check:

You can also keep up to date with event news and advice on the official FIFA World Cup 26 app (on iOS and on Android), and the official World Cup 2026 website.

Make sure your visa and passport are valid

To be allowed into the countries, you’ll need to have the right visa or a visa waiver. Also, your passport needs to be valid, which in the US, means having 6 months validity before it expires, and Mexico recommend a validity of 180 days. Check these links for full information and the latest guidelines:

Got a ticket?

If you haven’t already snapped up a ticket, you’ll need to buy one from the FIFA World Cup 2026 ticketing page – no tickets will be sold at stadiums, and you’ll need an official ticket on the app to enter the stadium. Printed copies, screenshots or tickets on any other site or app won’t work. Be warned that if you buy tickets from a third-party site, even if they appear in official app, they might be flagged as a dodgy ticket, or already used, in which case you won’t be allowed to enter.

The stadium’s code of conduct will let you know what you can and can’t bring into the stadium, so peruse that before packing for the day.

About fan zones and public viewings

If you’re not going to watch the match live, happily, FIFA are laying on Fan Zones and Public Viewing areas across the countries. Check the official World Cup 2026 website for information about where you can go to soak up the atmosphere instead.

Sort your accommodation and travel out early

The earlier you sort your travel and accommodation, the smoother you’ll find the lead-up.

Accommodation will be in high demand, and transport routes around the stadiums will be very busy on match days. Plan your journey in advance, and leave plenty of extra time for traffic and rerouting. If you’re hiring a car or using taxis, please read the FDCO’s advice:

Travel insurance

It’s wise to have travel insurance to cover all eventualities, for example, because healthcare in the USA is expensive. Make sure your travel insurance is valid for your destination, and that the policy covers everything you’ve got on your itinerary, and emergency medical care.

Laws and cultural differences

Laws vary between host countries, but also within them – for example, in each US state or Canadian province. You’ll need to follow both local and national laws.

These include laws on alcohol, drugs and smoking. Major differences to be aware of include:

  • USA: the legal drinking age is 21.
  • Canada: the legal drinking age is 19 except in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, where it’s 18.
  • Mexico: the legal drinking age is 18, and it’s illegal to bring in e-cigarettes, vaping devices and solutions, or to buy and sell them.

Check these links for more about each country’s laws and cultural differences, including advice for LGBT+ travellers:

 

If you’re heading away for the World Cup this summer make sure to pack a Switched On Travel Insurance policy. It’s feature packed cover is available to buy online or over the phone. Policies provide a 24/7 emergency helpline and gadgets are covered automatically. Find out more by visiting the Switched On travel pages.