World Cup 2026: Everything fans need to know about tickets and travel!

World Cup 2026: Everything fans need to know about tickets and travel!

The 2026 Football World Cup is already casting its shadow. After the first Club World Cup has been completed, attention turns to the major sporting event that will take place from June 11th to July 19th, 2026 in the USA, Mexico and Canada. US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino are at the helm of this mega event. Both have already expressed their excitement for the tournament, with Infantino congratulating Trump on his re-election and stressing that the World Cup will be a big attraction under his leadership. According to rheinpfalz.de, planning for ticket purchases is already in full swing as demand is high, especially for the games Top teams.

Interestingly, a total of 104 matches will be played in this World Cup, making it the largest in the history of the tournament. The games will take place in 16 stadiums, including 11 in the USA, 3 in Mexico and 2 in Canada. The big highlight, the final, will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Fans have the opportunity to purchase tickets via the official FIFA homepage, although registration is required. Ticket exchanges and tour operators also offer tickets, but care should be taken to ensure that they are genuine so as not to experience a rude awakening.

Tickets and their challenges

The tickets are in high demand and the offer includes a variety of options. There are combination tickets for the Club World Cup and the World Cup, as well as special offers such as the “Follow Your Team” ticket for $999, which allows fans to reserve a ticket for the final, provided Germany makes it there. For outsiders, tickets are available for $299. But there are already tighter contingents because the tickets for German fans are already sold out. It's worth taking a look at the prices!

Ticket prices vary depending on the game phase and category. While the best seats, usually on the halfway line, are in Category 1, cheaper seats in Category 3 are often found behind the goals. There will also be special family areas with a child-friendly atmosphere, making the World Cup attractive to younger fans. The first sales phase begins about a year before the tournament with a ticket lottery. Early registration on FIFA.com is strongly recommended.

Travel and entry regulations

For German fans, it is important to note that a visa is required to enter the USA and the ESTA procedure is sufficient for tourist purposes. For Canada, an electronic travel authorization (eTA) is required, while for Mexico a passport and tourist card (FMM) are required. As deutschlandfunk.de reports, both Infantino and US Vice President JD Vance have stressed that everyone is welcome as long as the rules are followed.

Travel between World Cup cities will be challenging as air travel or rental cars will be necessary, particularly in the sprawling United States and Canada. Fans should also be prepared for high hotel prices and consider booking early. The bad news: The travel distances are considerable - for example, between Vancouver and Mexico City are over 4,000 kilometers. Back to the sporting aspects: The German national team starts its World Cup qualification on September 4th. With group opponents such as Northern Ireland and Luxembourg, they have an exciting challenge ahead of them before qualification must be completed on November 17th.

The following applies to all football enthusiasts: a lot of planning is involved. The group stage will be drawn in December and the exact location of this ceremony is still up in the air. One thing is certain: the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be an unforgettable event – ​​with many highlights and certainly memorable moments for the fans!