The 2026 World Cup has 48 teams across 16 cities in 3 countries — so where does the team you support play? We lay out the strategy for planning a trip around your team, a backup plan if they go out, and the honest truth you need before locking in tickets.
Follow these three steps — the plan changes before and after the Final Draw.
After the Final Draw in late 2025 you'll know which group your team is in and which cities it plays its 3 group matches in · This is the starting point for locking a city.
In the group stage one team can play 3 cities in the same country · Pick a city your team plays, or a central hub with easy connections · For a favorite, lean toward the USA.
From the Round of 16 onward, matches are hosted mainly in the USA · If your team advances, you follow · The final is at MetLife, New York — and you'll need a US visa.
Rough guidance based on fanbase tendencies and connection convenience · Every team's real cities are confirmed only after the Final Draw — these are "sensible bases," not where the team definitely plays.
This is the question that paralyzes people — the answer depends on whether you're "following a specific team" or just "after the World Cup atmosphere."
Wait for the Final Draw (late 2025), then lock a city by your team's group · In the meantime book a changeable flight and a free-cancellation hotel to hedge against rising prices, then adjust later.
No need to wait — pick a city you want to visit and grab tickets for any match there · With 104 matches, every city has high-quality football, so book now.
Flights and hotels get pricier the longer you wait · But tickets sell in several Sales Phases from fifa.com/tickets · The middle path: lock a flexible hotel/flight first, follow ticket sales as they open.
This is why you shouldn't tie the whole trip to one team · Have a backup ready and the trip won't fall apart.
Pick a city or region with several matches to watch (the eastern USA has plenty of knockouts) · Even if your team goes out, you still have high-quality football in the same city.
Instead of only your team's match, buy 2-3 matches in the same city · Whichever teams advance, you still get a full World Cup experience.
Don't build the trip around football alone · Every host city has plenty to see — NYC, LA, CDMX, Toronto are great even without your team playing.
Check the host cities, run the budget and gear up.
16 host cities, schedule, visas for 3 countries — the full overview.
Main guide →Three plans, ฿50K / ฿100K / ฿200K — choose a country and match for your budget.
See budget plans →The base for following a team deep — MetLife Stadium, hotels, transport.
See NYC →The base for following Asian teams — SoFi Stadium, hotels, transport.
See LA →The historic opening match at the Azteca · budget-mid friendly.
See CDMX →Connected on landing + insurance for the USA/Canada/Mexico.
Find eSIM on Klook →The exact schedule of which team plays where is only confirmed after the Final Draw in late 2025 · Before that you can only plan by zone — the group stage spreads across all 16 cities in 3 countries, while knockouts from the Round of 16 onward consolidate in the USA · Always check fifa.com/worldcup for the latest.
Argentina is a favorite and large Latin fanbases are in Miami and the eastern USA · If Argentina goes deep, the safe bet is to base yourself in an eastern US city (Miami/New York/Atlanta) since knockouts are mostly there · But the group-stage cities are only confirmed after the Final Draw.
If you're following one specific team, wait for the Final Draw (late 2025) before locking in a city · But flights and hotels get pricier the longer you wait — the middle path is to book a changeable flight and a free-cancellation hotel now, then adjust once the real schedule is out.
This is why you shouldn't tie your whole trip to one team · The backup is to base in a city or region with many matches (the eastern USA has plenty of knockouts), so if your team goes out you still have high-quality football to watch · Or buy tickets for several matches in the same city from the start.
The group stage spreads across all three countries, so you'll need to wait for the Final Draw · But Asian teams and large Asian fanbases tend to gather on the US West Coast (Los Angeles/San Francisco/Seattle) and Vancouver — close and with big Asian communities, making them sensible bases if you follow an Asian team.
From the Round of 16 onward, matches are hosted primarily in the USA · Semifinals are in Dallas and Atlanta, and the final is at MetLife Stadium, New York, on 19 July · If you intend to watch your team in the late rounds, you'll need a US visa (8-12 month wait — apply now).
Choose a zone by team → check the city guides → run the budget → follow fifa.com after the Final Draw, then lock in tickets.
See the full World Cup guide →