One of the most celebrated and popular sporting tournaments in the world, the FIFA World Cup pits the greatest national association football (soccer) clubs against one another in a global celebration of sport and national pride that takes place once every four years.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It will mark the first time in the tournament’s history where matches will be played in three different nations concurrently. It is estimated that more than seven million tourists will visit the 16 cities chosen to host the 2026 edition of the tournament.
2026 World Cup Travel Insurance
If you have a plan to travel internationally to attend the 2026 World Cup, the proper insurance is essential. Though none of the host countries legally require tourists to have international insurance coverage, it is important for any World Cup attendee to have appropriate insurance.
Consider what would happen if you were to get sick or injured in a foreign country while attending the World Cup. Your domestic health insurance is unlikely to be accepted or provide sufficient coverage outside of your home country. That means that if you have to go to a hospital or doctor’s office, you would be responsible for paying the entire cost of treatment yourself.
If you are visiting the United States from another country to attend the World Cup, or you have family visiting you in the US to attend a match, get USA visitors insurance. It can provide coverage for any new, unexpected medical condition that occurs after the effective date of the policy, thus protecting you from the extremely high cost of medical care in the United States.
If you are planning to go to Mexico or Canada to attend a match, get travel medical insurance. It can provide necessary coverage for medical care outside of your home country, where your domestic health insurance may provide limited coverage, or no coverage at all.
World Cup 2026 Venues
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held at 16 different venues across North America.
In Canada, matches will be played at:
In Mexico, matches will be held at:
- Estadio Azteca in Mexico City
- Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Nuevo León
- Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Jalisco
The United States will be hosting the majority of the matches for the 2026 World Cup. Expected venues are:
- MetLife Stadium near New York City
- AT&T Stadium near Dallas, Texas
- Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri
- NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
- SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, California
- Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington
- Levi’s Stadium near San Francisco, California
- Gillette Stadium near Boston, Massachusetts
- Hard Rock Stadium near Miami, Florida
2026 FIFA World Cup Tickets and Lodging
If you’re saving for tickets to attend the 2026 World Cup, you still have ample time. According to FIFA, tickets will be available “in due course.” If previous World Cups are any indication, expect tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to go on sale sometime in 2025 or early 2026.
As the 2026 World Cup will be held across 16 major metropolitan areas in three countries, lodging options will be vast. Expect numerous cities to construct new and larger hotels in anticipation of massive crowds. However, you should also expect to book your lodging as soon as you’re aware of what matches you will be attending. Even in massive cities like Mexico City and Los Angeles, rooms are likely to be booked up more than a year in advance of the tournament.
The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Be prepared to get the most out of your World Cup vacation with the proper insurance, so you can cheer your country on with confidence.