You bought the ticket. You booked the flight. Now you have a nine-hour layover in Miami before your connection, your hotel is forty minutes from the stadium, and your phone doesn’t work without Wi-Fi. This is the guide for that part of the trip — the boring, important bits between landing in North America and walking into the stadium. We won’t tell you who’s going to win. We will tell you exactly how to survive Atlanta in July with two suitcases and no SIM card.
The 2026 World Cup, in plain English
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026. For the first time, three countries are co-hosting: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Across 16 host cities, 48 national teams will play 104 matches. The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June. The final is at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 19 July.
The United States hosts the majority of the action — 78 of the 104 matches, spread across eleven cities, including every match from the quarter-finals onwards. If you are flying in from outside North America, you are almost certainly transiting through, staying in, or travelling between US cities. This guide is built around that reality, with a deep link to a full EpicLayover city guide for every host you’ll touch.
What we cover (and what we don’t)
EpicLayover is a travel logistics site. We help you with airports, layovers, transit between host cities, visas, eSIMs, luggage storage and the gear that makes a long trip survivable. We do not cover team news, fixtures, predictions or ticketing. For match schedules and tickets, go to FIFA.com.
Choose your path
I have a layover in a US airport
Your connecting flight gives you 4–14 hours in a city you didn’t plan to visit. You want to know if you can leave the airport, what to do, where to store your bags and how not to miss your next flight.
See city guides →I’m staying in a host city
You’ve booked accommodation in or near a match city and you’ll be there for at least a night. You want airport transfers, where to stay, how to get to the stadium and what to do on rest days.
See city guides →The Welcome to the USA Arrivals Shot
The “Welcome to the United States” sign at any major international arrivals hall is the single most-shared World Cup travel photo of the summer. Frame your team scarf in front of it. Tag @epiclayover and we’ll repost the best ones.
The 16 host cities
Eleven cities in the United States, three in Mexico, two in Canada. Every card below links to a full EpicLayover guide covering airport, transit, food, neighbourhoods and the practical stuff that decides whether your trip works. The three “coming soon” cities are being built next.
United States — the 11 host cities
New York / New Jersey
JFK · EWR · LGAMetLife Stadium · FIFA: New York New Jersey Stadium
⭐ Hosts the Final · 8 matchesMetLife is in East Rutherford, New Jersey — not New York. Newark airport (EWR) is the closest of the three. NJ Transit’s Meadowlands rail line runs straight to the stadium on match days.
Read the NYC guide →Los Angeles, CA
LAXSoFi Stadium · FIFA: Los Angeles Stadium
🇺🇸 USA Opener · Quarter-Final · 8 matchesSoFi is in Inglewood, five miles east of LAX. The most expensive stadium ever built — $5.5 billion. The Metro K Line drops you a 15-minute walk from the gates.
Read the LAX guide →Dallas, TX
DFW · DALAT&T Stadium · FIFA: Dallas Stadium
⚔️ Semi-Final · 9 matches (most of any venue)In Arlington, halfway between Dallas and Fort Worth. No rail to the stadium — DART Orange Line gets you to downtown Dallas (50 min from DFW), then rideshare to Arlington. Texas heat is real.
Read the Dallas guide →Atlanta, GA
ATLMercedes-Benz Stadium · FIFA: Atlanta Stadium
⚔️ Semi-Final · 8 matchesMARTA Red or Gold Line from ATL — the world’s busiest airport — straight to downtown in 25 minutes for $2.50. Best airport-to-stadium transit in the entire World Cup.
Read the Atlanta guide →Miami, FL
MIAHard Rock Stadium · FIFA: Miami Stadium
🥉 Bronze Final · 7 matchesHard Rock is in Miami Gardens — sixteen miles north of downtown. No rail line, so rideshare or pre-book a transfer. Miami in June and July means afternoon thunderstorms — pack a poncho, not an umbrella.
Read the Miami guide →Boston, MA
BOSGillette Stadium · FIFA: Boston Stadium
🏆 Quarter-Final · 7 matchesGillette Stadium is in Foxborough — 30 miles south of Boston. The MBTA runs a special Foxboro commuter rail on match days. The Silver Line from BOS to downtown is free.
Read the Boston guide →Seattle, WA
SEALumen Field · FIFA: Seattle Stadium
🇺🇸 USA Group · Round of 16 · 6 matchesLumen Field is downtown — best transit of any West Coast venue. Link light rail from SEA straight to International District/Chinatown station, three minutes from the stadium. Bring layers — June can be 14°C.
Read the Seattle guide →Houston, TX
IAH · HOUNRG Stadium · FIFA: Houston Stadium
7 matchesNRG has a retractable roof — climate-controlled match days in 38°C Texas summer. Use IAH (the bigger international airport) over Hobby. METRORail Red Line connects downtown to the stadium.
Read the Houston guide →Kansas City, MO
MCIArrowhead Stadium · FIFA: Kansas City Stadium
⚽ Argentina + 5 more · 6 matchesThe loudest outdoor sports venue in the world — Guinness-record 142.2 decibels. Bring earplugs. No rail link to the stadium, so pre-book a transfer or use the official match-day shuttle.
Read the Kansas City guide →Philadelphia, PA
PHLLincoln Financial Field · FIFA: Philadelphia Stadium
5 matchesSEPTA’s Broad Street subway runs straight from downtown to the stadium — best East Coast public transit of any World Cup venue. Eat a cheesesteak in the Italian Market before the match.
Read the Philadelphia guide →San Francisco Bay
SFO · SJCLevi’s Stadium · FIFA: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
🏆 Round of 32 · 6 matches“San Francisco” matches are in Santa Clara — 45 miles south, in Silicon Valley. Fly into San Jose (SJC) if you can. VTA light rail from Mountain View station serves the stadium. Bay Area nights are cold.
Read the San Francisco guide →Canada — Toronto plus Vancouver
Toronto, ON
YYZBMO Field · FIFA: Toronto Stadium
🇨🇦 Canada’s opener · 6 matchesSmallest stadium in the tournament — 45,736 seats — which makes it the loudest per ticket. UP Express from Pearson (YYZ) to Union Station, then streetcar 509 to Exhibition. You need a Canadian eTA, not a US ESTA.
Read the Toronto guide →Vancouver, BC
YVRBC Place · FIFA: Vancouver Stadium
7 matchesSkyTrain Canada Line from YVR straight to Stadium-Chinatown station in 20 minutes — the best airport-to-stadium transit anywhere in the tournament. BC Place keeps its real name (FIFA exemption).
Guide coming soonMexico — Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara
Mexico City
MEXEstadio Azteca · FIFA: Mexico City Stadium
⭐ Opening Match · 5 matchesThe opening match is here — Mexico vs South Africa, 11 June. The only stadium in football history to host three different World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026). Metro Line 2 to Tasqueña, then Tren Ligero. Altitude is 2,240m — give yourself two days to acclimatise.
Read the Mexico City guide →Monterrey, MX
MTYEstadio BBVA · FIFA: Monterrey Stadium
4 matchesBest stadium view of the tournament — Cerro de la Silla mountain looms over the pitch. The 1,000th match in World Cup history (Tunisia vs Japan) is here on 20 June. Eat northern Mexican barbecue in Barrio Antiguo.
Guide coming soonGuadalajara, MX
GDLEstadio Akron · FIFA: Guadalajara Stadium
4 matches (group stage only)Volcano-shaped stadium in Zapopan, home of Chivas. The town of Tequila is 50 minutes away — distillery tours beat any other rest day in the tournament. Uruguay vs Spain (26 June) is the marquee fixture.
Guide coming soonTravelling between host countries?
A US ESTA or visa does not let you enter Canada or Mexico. Canada requires an eTA (most visa-waiver nationals) or visitor visa. Mexico requires an FMM tourist permit, usually issued on arrival. Each country is a separate immigration decision — check requirements for every leg of your itinerary, not just where you land first.
Visas and entry: the part fans get wrong
Here is the single most important sentence in this entire guide: a World Cup match ticket does not grant entry into the United States. Every fan still needs valid US travel authorisation, and admission is decided at the border by US Customs and Border Protection. You can have the ticket, the hotel and the flight, and still be turned away at immigration if your paperwork is wrong.
For most travellers, US entry falls into one of two paths.
Path 1 — ESTA (Visa Waiver Programme)
For citizens of the 42 Visa Waiver Programme countries — including the UK, most EU member states, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and others.
- Apply online via the official ESTA portal
- Cost: US$21 (verify current pricing at application)
- Usually approved within 72 hours, often instantly
- Valid for two years, multiple entries, max 90 days per visit
- You still need a passport valid 6+ months past travel
Path 2 — B1/B2 Visitor Visa
For citizens of all other countries — including most of South America (except Chile), most of Africa, much of Asia and the Middle East.
- Apply at your nearest US Embassy or Consulate
- In-person interview required
- Wait times currently 3–12 months in many countries
- FIFA PASS gives ticket holders priority appointments
- Starting now is not too early — it may already be too late in some countries
What is FIFA PASS?
The FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System gives confirmed World Cup ticket holders access to priority visa interview appointments at US embassies and consulates. It does not guarantee a visa — it only moves you to the front of the queue for an interview. Approval still depends on the consular officer. If your country participates in the Visa Waiver Programme, you do not need FIFA PASS — apply for ESTA instead.
Before you fly: the entry checklist
- Passport valid 6+ months past your intended departure from the US
- Valid ESTA or B1/B2 visa — printed and saved on your phone
- Return or onward flight booked — CBP may ask to see it
- Accommodation confirmed — at least your first night’s hotel address
- Travel insurance — US healthcare is the most expensive in the world; an uninsured A&E visit can run into five figures
- Onward travel plan if visiting Canada or Mexico — eTA for Canada, FMM for Mexico
Get travel insurance → Compare World Nomads →
Layover and transit planning
Most international fans will have at least one US layover during their World Cup trip. Some are short and stressful. Others are long enough to leave the airport. Here is how to think about your time on the ground.
The 90-minute rule
For any layover under 90 minutes, do not plan to leave the airport. Domestic-to-domestic connections in the US are technically possible in an hour, but immigration, baggage re-check and TSA on an international-to-domestic transfer routinely take 60–90 minutes on a normal day. During the World Cup, with higher passenger volumes at every major hub, allow extra.
The 4-hour rule
Anything over 4 hours, you should at least consider leaving the airport — especially if your connection is the next morning. A decent meal, a real shower at an airport hotel, or a quick downtown wander can change the whole tone of your trip. Our layover viability calculator gives you a yes/no answer based on your exact connection.
Luggage between cities
If you’re following your team across multiple host cities, dragging two suitcases through three airports gets old fast. Bounce, Nannybag and Stasher all operate luggage storage in the major US World Cup cities, with hourly or daily rates at hotels, shops and transit hubs.
Find luggage storage with Bounce →
The Stadium Skyline Carousel
The walk-up to your first match — stadium in the background, scarf in hand, sun setting — is the carousel post that gets the saves. Shoot it in landscape, post it as a carousel with three frames: empty seat, full bowl, final whistle. Tag @epiclayover.
The World Cup travel kit
You don’t need much. You need the right few things. Here are the tools that turn a chaotic six-week trip into a smooth one.
📱 Stay connected — eSIM
An eSIM activates instantly on landing — no waiting at an airport kiosk, no swapping a physical SIM. Roamless and Airalo are the two we use.
Get Roamless →🏨 Where to stay
Hotel prices in host cities are running 3–5× normal during match weeks. Lock yours in now. Cancellable rates are worth the small premium.
Book on Booking.com →🚗 Airport transfers
Pre-booked airport transfers cost the same as a surge-priced rideshare on match day, with a driver waiting at arrivals holding your name.
Welcome Pickups →🛡️ Travel insurance
Non-negotiable for the US. A single A&E visit can cost $5,000+. Insure My Trip and World Nomads both have World Cup-friendly cover.
Compare plans →🏨 Alternative hotels
Agoda often has different inventory and better rates in cities with heavy Asian fan traffic (LA, SF, Seattle). Worth comparing both.
Check Agoda →🎟️ Stadium-day activities
Klook covers airport transfers, attraction tickets, food tours and stadium-day extras in every major US host city.
Browse Klook →💷 Multi-currency cards
Wise and Revolut both convert at near-interbank rates and work in the US, Canada and Mexico. Order yours 2–3 weeks before travel.
Get Wise →🧳 Luggage storage
Don’t drag bags between cities. Bounce, Nannybag and Stasher all have networks across the eleven US host cities.
Find a Bounce spot →🆘 Emergency insurance
EKTA covers medical, baggage and flight delays — useful as a top-up alongside a primary policy if you’re moving between countries.
Get EKTA →The Layover Survival Flat-Lay
Top-down shot on a hotel bed or airport bench: passport, charger, eSIM QR code, compression socks, neck pillow. The travel-prep flat-lay is the highest-saving carousel format on Instagram right now. Caption it with your kit list. Tag @epiclayover.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for the World Cup if my country isn’t in the Visa Waiver Programme?
Yes. You will need a B1/B2 visitor visa, applied for at your nearest US Embassy or Consulate. Wait times for interviews are currently long in many countries, sometimes 6+ months. If you have a confirmed World Cup ticket, opt into FIFA PASS for priority scheduling — but apply now, not in May.
How long does ESTA approval take?
Usually under 72 hours, often within minutes. Apply at least 7 days before travel as a safety buffer. ESTA is valid for two years, so once you have it, you can use it for multiple short visits including the entire World Cup window.
Can I attend matches in Canada and Mexico on a US visa?
No. A US ESTA or B1/B2 visa is only valid for entry into the United States. Canada requires an eTA (most visa-waiver nationals) or a visitor visa. Mexico requires an FMM tourist permit, usually issued on arrival. Each country is a separate immigration decision.
What’s the minimum layover I should book for an international-to-domestic US connection?
For international-to-domestic, allow at least 2.5 hours as a hard minimum, and 3–4 hours for any flight in June or July 2026 when traffic is heavy. You will need to clear immigration, collect and re-check your bags, pass TSA, and find your domestic gate. Anything tighter is a missed connection waiting to happen.
Will I be able to get a SIM or eSIM on arrival?
Yes, but it’s slower than activating one in advance. eSIMs from Airalo, Roamless or Nomad activate before you land — you scan a QR code at home, and the data plan starts the moment your phone connects to a US tower. Physical SIM kiosks at major airports often have queues during the tournament. Lock your eSIM in before you fly.
How early should I arrive at the stadium on match day?
Plan to be at the stadium gates at least 90 minutes before kickoff. Security checks for World Cup matches are stricter than regular sporting events, and rideshare drop-offs are usually 10–20 minutes’ walk from the actual entry. Public transit is the fastest option in NYC, Boston, LA, Seattle, Philadelphia, Vancouver and Atlanta. In Dallas, Miami, Kansas City and Houston, drive or rideshare with a buffer.
What if my home country isn’t eligible for ESTA or has visa restrictions?
Check the US State Department’s current visa-eligibility list before booking anything non-refundable. If you’re affected by entry restrictions, you may still be able to attend matches in Canada or Mexico — both have their own entry rules and may be accessible even when US entry isn’t. Buy refundable tickets and refundable hotels until your visa is confirmed.
Where do I find the actual match schedule and tickets?
FIFA.com is the only official source for the full match schedule and ticket sales. Anyone else offering “guaranteed tickets” before FIFA’s official allocation phases is, at best, reselling at a heavy markup and at worst running a scam. We don’t sell tickets, and we don’t recommend any third-party seller.
There is a particular hush in an international arrivals hall at four in the morning — fluorescent light off polished floor, the smell of overpriced coffee, a queue of strangers all wearing different scarves. You will stand in that queue. You will compare your itinerary against the man next to you, who is from a country you’ve never visited, and you will both laugh about the same long flight. Somewhere outside, a stadium is being polished. Somewhere ahead, a final whistle is waiting. But right now, it’s just you, your passport, and a long warm summer about to begin.
Ready to plan your trip?
Start with the city you’ll land in first. Each guide covers airport-to-stadium logistics, where to stay, what to do on rest days, and what to skip.