dailynewsnblog
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition of the tournament in history, with 48 teams (up from 32 in previous years) and 104 matches spread across the U.S., Canada and Mexico in June and July. This gives soccer fans more options than ever to get a front-row view of the action — but it also makes travel trickier.
Sports fans who were lucky enough to get tickets in FIFA’s complex, multistage sale process are far from done planning. You’ll still need to book flights, find a place to stay on peak dates and navigate transportation in one of the 16 sure-to-be-packed host cities — all without breaking the bank.
Not to worry. We’ve got your back with planning tips and points and miles strategies to help you minimize costs and maximize fun on your World Cup trip.
Related: How I saved over $1,500 on a college football weekend by using points
Score last-minute tickets with points
World Cup tickets are in high demand, and plenty of unfortunate fans (including this writer) were left empty-handed after FIFA’s various presales and ticketing phases. But hope is not lost.
FIFA’s Last-Minute Sales Phase is slated to open in early April, and the official FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace will reopen April 2 — though ticket prices may be astronomical if the cheaper seats have been bought up in previous phases.
Alternatively, if luck is on your side, you just might be able to get tickets with points through Marriott Bonvoy Moments. Starting April 13, the redemption platform will roll out ticket access to all 104 World Cup matches, including some “1-Point Drops” for final match tickets. This means as soon as the experience drops on Marriott’s site, a (very) limited number of Bonvoy members can book it for a single point.
You can join Marriott Bonvoy or log in to your account here to select your favorite teams and receive notifications about ticketing opportunities. Mark your calendars for April 13, and be prepared to act fast for your chance to score tickets.
Related: The most exclusive travel experiences you can book with points and miles
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Set alerts for your flights
Flights to host cities will likely see a spike in price around game days, whether you pay with cash or miles. You don’t want to pay more than you have to — but you also don’t want to end up with tickets to a match without a way to get there.
Your best bet is to book a refundable or changeable fare early, then set up price alerts so you can be notified when the fare drops and can rebook your flight to get money back.
You can set up a free alert on Google Flights. After setting your search parameters, simply click “Track prices” (and log into your Google account, if needed) to get price drop alerts sent directly to your inbox. Or, use one of these tools to automate your savings.
If you’re hoping to book with points or miles, a Seats.aero Pro subscription ($9.99 per month or $99.99 per year) lets you set alerts to be notified when your desired award flight becomes available. You can select which rewards currency you want to use, as well as multiple departing and connecting airports, date ranges and fare classes. With ExpertFlyer (owned by TPG’s parent company, Red Ventures), paid subscribers can also run award searches and set up flight alerts.
Keep in mind that, while you’ll usually have to pay extra for a refundable cash fare, most major U.S. airlines don’t charge cancellation fees on award tickets. Booking your ticket with points or miles could not only save you money but also give you more flexibility.
Monitor hotel award space
Hotels near World Cup venues are in high demand during the tournament, and this is reflected in their prices. For instance, rates at The Westin Los Angeles Airport, a few miles from SoFi Stadium, more than double starting around June 12, the day of the opening match in the U.S.
The award rates go up, too, but not by as much. On the night of June 12, you could pay just 56,000 Marriott Bonvoy points (or use a 50,000-point free night certificate topped up with 6,000 points) to get an above-average value of around 1 cent per point.
Redeeming points for World Cup lodging could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars and help you maximize the value of your points, but properties may wait to release award space until closer to the tournament. In that case, consider booking lodging at refundable cash rates, then checking regularly for award space to open. If you manage to snag a hotel room with points, you can cancel your backup room for a full refund — and, if not, you won’t be left high and dry.
If you end up paying cash for your stay, maximize your earnings with a cobranded hotel card or one of the best credit cards for hotels.
Related: How to use Rooms.aero to find the best hotel award availability
Stay in second cities
Although FIFA has rechristened World Cup venues with names like “Boston Stadium” and “Dallas Stadium,” not all are actually located in their namesake city. You’re better off planning your trip around the stadium’s location than the city itself. In some cases, there may be a second city that’s almost as convenient (if not more so) where the demand — and thus hotel rates — are lower.
For example, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is about an hour’s drive from central Boston, so you could stay in Providence instead of Boston and face only a half-hour drive.
Hilton has a handful of properties in Providence that are not yet sold out for the July 9 quarterfinal match, such as the Hampton Inn Pawtucket (from $469 per night) and Home2 Suites by Hilton Smithfield Providence (from $460 per night). Many Boston options, besides being farther away, have considerably higher prices that night.
Other second city options include:
- New York City: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is actually closer to Newark (a 22-minute drive) than New York City (a 35-minute drive).
- Dallas: Fort Worth is just as convenient to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Dallas; both are about 20 minutes away.
- San Francisco: San Jose and Mountain View, California, are much closer to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. For example, you’ll drive about 25 minutes from San Jose or 15 minutes from Mountain View, compared to over an hour from San Francisco.
- Miami: Both Miami and Fort Lauderdale are about 25 minutes from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Maximize public transportation
Host cities are all but guaranteed to be jam-packed on game days, but you can save yourself the hassle of battling traffic by taking public transportation.
Another benefit: Public transportation can save you serious dough. You won’t have to deal with surge pricing like with ride-hailing services, and you’ll pay far less to park at a station than you would for a FIFA parking pass. (To give you an idea, passes in Atlanta range from about $100 to $235.)
Here are some stadiums with the best public transport:
- Atlanta: The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority serves two rail stations within easy walking distance of Mercedes-Benz Stadium: GWCC and Vine City.
- Boston: Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority’s Commuter Rail stops at Foxboro Station, about a quarter mile from Gillette Stadium.
- Los Angeles: LA Metro is boosting service to SoFi Stadium, with nine direct routes planned for all World Cup matches and fares starting at just $1.75.
- Miami: Take the Brightline train to Aventura Station, then hop on a complimentary shuttle to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
- New York: NJ Transit’s Meadowlands Rail Service drops riders at the front door of MetLife Stadium.
- Philadelphia: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Broad Street subway line stops at AT&T Station, a 10-minute walk from Lincoln Financial Field.
- Seattle: The downtown-adjacent Lumen Field is easy to reach via Link light rail, which will offer increased service on the 1 and 2 lines on all game days.
- San Francisco: Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara is conveniently located near several public transportation routes, including Valley Transportation Authority light rail and bus lines, ACE/Capitol Corridor heavy rail and Caltrain for direct access to San Francisco.
Just remember that lines may be long and trains and buses may be packed, so give yourself plenty of time to reach the stadium.
To maximize rewards on public transportation, be sure to pay with one of the best credit cards for general travel purchases.
Cut costs with credit card perks
A World Cup trip is not the easiest place to cut costs, since your dates and destinations are determined by the tickets you have, and you can’t avoid traveling during a high-demand period. That’s where points, miles and other rewards come in.
Several of our favorite rewards cards offer valuable travel credits, free hotel nights and more that you can put toward your trip budget.
Beyond the cost of lodging and airfare, additional expenses like dining and transportation can add up quickly. Thankfully, some cards offer money-saving perks that are often geared toward city dwellers — or travelers visiting a city for the World Cup.
Here are some easy ways to save on your trip expenses:
*Enrollment is required
Related: Why every sports fan should have the Chase Sapphire Reserve
Bottom line
Above all, I can’t stress enough the importance of doing your research and arriving at your World Cup destination prepared. Plan to fly in at least a day before your match in case your flight is delayed. Know where your stadium is, research transportation options and build plenty of wiggle room into your schedule.
If, like me, you’re hoping to get one last shot at tickets during the Last-Minute Sales Phase, it could be worth booking a (refundable) trip now. If you manage to secure tickets, you’ll be ready — or, if FIFA crushes your World Cup dreams again, you can cancel for free.
But I’m not bitter.
