16 Cities, 3 Countries: Here’s How to Plan a Summer of Soccer Travel

It’s an exciting year for football fans around the world, especially those in North America who have been waiting for the biggest soccer tournament in the world to be hosted here. The last time this event was hosted in the U.S. was in 1994; it was 1986 when it was last hosted in Mexico, and 2015 when the women's tournament was held in Canada. With its triumphant return to North America during the summer of 2026, fans from around the globe are eager to purchase tickets and travel for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For those of you lucky enough to secure highly coveted tickets — or plan on purchasing tickets during the final sales phase, which begins on April 1 — to a soccer match in one (or more) of 16 host cities across three countries, planning your travels is the next logical step.

The sooner you book your flights, hotels, and ground transportation after purchasing game day tickets, the better. The logistics for an event of this caliber aren't always easy to figure out on your own, but Skyscanner is the ultimate travel planning website to alleviate some of the headaches and stress you may otherwise face when planning travel to and between the host cities and countries on your own. It's also a quick and efficient way to book trips.

Finding the Best Flights to the Tournament Host Cities

With this world-class soccer tournament in 16 cities across three North American countries, you have some decisions to make even before you plan your travels. Will you choose just one city, or travel between host cities and/or across the border? Once you've secured tickets to your chosen destinations, it's time to figure out how to get there, where to stay, and, if needed, ground transportation.

The first step is to book your flights, and Skyscanner's Soccer Flight Finder makes it incredibly quick and easy. With the match schedule laid out by date, city, and teams playing, you can, with a click of a button, find flights to the host city from your location.

Setting price alerts through Skyscanner is also an option that will notify you when flight prices change between your chosen cities. You can even follow your favorite team through Skyscanner's website to see which match they are playing throughout the tournament and book last-minute travel arrangements between host cities.

Once your flights are booked, it's time to choose a hotel. Would you prefer the convenience of staying by the stadium, some of which are located on the outskirts of the host city, farther from the amenities and walkability of a downtown area? Or would you rather stay in a centralized area so you can explore when not at a game? Is there public transportation, do you need to rent a car, or can you walk from your hotel to get to and from the stadium? These are important considerations when finalizing your travel plans.

Budget Travel Planning for Your Soccer Summer

Traveling on a budget? No problem! Skyscanner's Soccer Travel Hub gives soccer fans some tips on how to save when planning travel this summer. Of course, booking flights and hotels as far in advance as possible can certainly help save money, as prices tend to rise closer to the event dates as demand rises. However, there are just a few additional things to keep in mind:

• Sticking to booking match-day tickets for one city will save money on air travel as multi-city travel drives up costs. Best of all, if there are a few days between scheduled games, you'll have plenty of time to explore all that the host city has to offer!
• Choose matches in one region so you can easily travel between cities. For example, Dallas and Houston, Texas, are 3.5 hours apart, so instead of flying, rent a car or take a bus between the two. The same goes for the northeast, where you can travel by car (road trip!) or train between the cities of Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
• Set fare drop alerts through Skyscanner. However, if you see a price you like, book it ASAP as airfare prices can quickly change.
• Be open to flying into a nearby regional airport over a major airport. You can choose the "nearby airport" option on Skyscanner for options.
• Look into public transportation options to limit on-the-ground costs. Most host cities have major transit hubs and offer public transport options for getting around.

Traveling Between Host Cities

Navigating among the three host countries entails additional logistical considerations, whether traveling by air or by car across the border. Some things to keep in mind when traveling between host countries:

• Remember to travel with your passport, and check the expiration date to ensure it's valid before and during your stay.
• Mexico requires visitors to fill out an FMM (Multiple Migration Form) upon entry, or save time by completing it online in advance. For Canada, you may or may not need a visa or an eTA depending on where you're from. Check the Government of Canada website for further details specific to your situation.
• Skyscanner's Getting Around Guide gives soccer fans helpful insight into the best routes to travel between countries between matches.

Using Skyscanner to Plan Your Summer Soccer Travels

The logistics of planning a bucket-list trip of this magnitude can be quite daunting, but using Skyscanner eases the burden by comparing millions of flights, hotels, and car rental options worldwide, including dates and prices.

All you have to do is enter the destination along with dates, hit the search button, and view the results. Not only can this platform help save you money, but it can also save you time with its instant booking capabilities. Check the soccer match schedule and plan your once-in-a-lifetime summer of soccer trip with ease on Skyscanner.