What you need to know about travel to the FIFA World Cup

It’s not long now until FIFA’s first Club World Cup tournament kicks off in the United States. From June 14, venues around the country will host matches involving 32 of the world’s best clubs, including Real Madrid, Italy’s Juventus and Champions League winners Manchester City.

Former Mexico national football team player Jorge Campos poses with the FIFA Club World Cup this month in Los Angeles.Credit: Getty Images

Star-studded it might be, but when the club tournament finishes on July 14, the countdown will start for the main event – the 2026 edition of the most-watched sporting event on the planet – the FIFA World Cup.

The main host is the United States, while Canada and Mexico will be auxiliary hosts, with a mammoth 104 games featuring 48 teams across 16 host cities. Eleven of those host cities are in the US, with Toronto and Vancouver in Canada also set to stage matches, as well as Mexico’s Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City. The latter gets to stage the opening game.

The host of the opening game in 2026, Mexico City, also hosted the final in 1986, when Diego Maradona (pictured) and Argentina beat West Germany 3-2.Credit: AP

When the joint bid was launched, it was done as an act of unity for the countries involved – and to deal with the ever-expanding number of teams and games in the tournament.

But that was before the US government imposed tariffs on its continental neighbours and voiced its desire to make Canada its 51st state.

Vancouver’s BC Place stadium will host seven matches of the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup – 48 teams will play 104 games in the 2026 tournament.Credit: iStock

So, can the so-called World Game still be that uniting force?

For travellers, it’s a more practical concern – how will it be crossing borders between countries that are currently prickly with each other? The added complication is the Trump administration’s “enhanced vetting” at airports and land-border crossings.

In recent news, President Donald Trump has announced himself chairman of a new taskforce aimed at ensuring things go smoothly when millions of overseas sports fans descend on America.

Sport travel expert Paul Kelly, founder and chief executive of Sportslink Travel, says he recently had an incident-free two-week reconnaissance trip to the US for the 2028 LA Olympic Games. Sportslink is Australia’s biggest provider of Olympics-related travel.

Australian fans out in numbers for a 2026 World Cup qualification game at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast.Credit: Getty Images

“I was in Southern California the other day, and I actually just went down to Tijuana [Mexico]. I just literally walked across the border and back. And the guy [a US Customs and Border officer] said, ‘You’re on an ESTA. No problems. Just keep walking’.”

ESTA is the US’s visa waiver program for which Australian travellers are eligible. Soon, Australians will be able to apply for the country’s Global Entry program, which will facilitate an even smoother entry for those who are approved.

In fact, the main issue Australians may have is getting tickets to Australia games – assuming the Socceroos qualify and are playing any of the home teams.

Otherwise, Kelly says, tickets should be OK to come by, especially when booking with a group tour.

“You can do it on your own, of course, but you just miss out on that big experience,” he says.

“Being part of a big contingent of Aussie supporters, as opposed to sitting on your own somewhere in the stand. You’re still into it, but you just miss that bigger group experience and the passion and everything that comes with being part of that.”