Lifestyle

5 Things to Know Before Traveling to a World Cup Host City This Month

By Curtis Jones · July 3, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being played across 16 American cities through July 19. If you’re traveling to a host city for a match — or even if you’re just visiting one while the tournament is in town — the experience will be different from a normal trip. Here’s what to know.

1. Traffic and transit patterns are completely disrupted on match days

Host cities are implementing rolling road closures, dedicated transit lanes, and restricted parking zones around stadiums for up to 8 hours on match days. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, and AT&T Stadium in Arlington have all published traffic management plans that close surrounding roads hours before kickoff. If you’re driving, arrive early and plan for delays. If you can take transit, do.

2. Hotels are at surge pricing — but not everywhere in the city

Hotel prices within a mile of stadiums are at peak rates — often 2 to 3 times normal pricing on match days. But prices 3 to 5 miles away are frequently normal or only slightly elevated. Neighborhoods one transit stop from the stadium often offer rates 40 to 60% lower than the stadium district. Don’t book the closest hotel automatically — check what’s available a short ride away.

3. FIFA Fan Festivals are free and often better than watching from a bar

Each host city has a designated FIFA Fan Festival — a free outdoor viewing area with large screens, food vendors, and entertainment. These are the best free option for fans without tickets. They also have a better atmosphere than most sports bars because everyone there is specifically there for the match. Check fifa.com for locations and hours in your host city.

4. Ticket resale scams are rampant

FIFA’s official resale platform is the only authorized secondary market. Tickets purchased from unofficial resale sites, social media sellers, or street vendors may be counterfeit, duplicated, or invalid. FIFA uses digital-only ticketing for most matches — meaning the ticket exists only in the FIFA app and cannot be printed or forwarded via screenshot. If someone is selling you a PDF or a screenshot, it’s not a real ticket.

5. Cash may not work at the stadium

Most World Cup venues are cashless — credit card, debit card, or mobile payment only. Bring at least one card you know works. If you’re an international visitor, confirm your card has no foreign transaction fees and that it supports contactless payment.

The World Cup final is at MetLife Stadium on July 19. Matches are being played daily across the country through that date. Whether you’re attending or just visiting a host city, the tournament is affecting transportation, pricing, and crowd levels citywide — not just at the stadium.