- 2 days ago
Planning a trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Condé Nast Traveler's Megan Spurell is here with an ultimate travel guide that covers all 16 host cities across the USA, Mexico, and Canada, with insider tips on where to eat, stay, and experience the best fan culture. From New York and Los Angeles to Mexico City, Toronto, and beyond, discover how to get to stadiums, explore FIFA Fan Fests, and tap into local hotspots.
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00:00This is our guide to every single host city of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
00:04I'm Megan Sparrow and I'm an editor at Coyness Traveler where I'll be covering the games.
00:07This is going to be an especially epic World Cup because it is the first time it's taking
00:11place across three host countries, the US, Mexico and Canada.
00:15There will be 48 teams from Brazil, Norway, Argentina, Japan, playing across 16 cities
00:21and there will be fans from around the world filling iconic stadiums like this one.
00:25This is our guide for where to eat, where to hang, where to sleep and how to get to the
00:30games and tap into local fandom wherever you're headed.
00:37Two things to know about this video.
00:39First of all, the stadium names during the World Cup are all going to be changed.
00:43So Miami's Hard Rock Stadium is going to be called Miami Stadium.
00:47In this video we're using their existing names because that is what you can use to search
00:50online figure out where they are and stuff near them.
00:53Secondly, we're going to be talking about FIFA FanFest throughout this video.
00:56These are big free public events.
00:58So picture places where there's a big screen up, you can watch the games even if you don't
01:03have a ticket and engage with fandom and other fans.
01:10Our first stop is New York, New Jersey.
01:12The stadium is actually in New Jersey in East Rutherford which is about an hour from the
01:17center of New York City.
01:18But that's okay because you can take a train from Penn Station right over and there will be
01:22shuttles for the game.
01:23If you're in the city, you can be just about anywhere and you're going to have a great time.
01:27I'm going to be walking around every day in different jerseys and definitely in bars
01:31of whichever country is playing.
01:32But you can also go to the FanFest in Rockefeller Center or Queens.
01:36To give you even more advice, we phoned in a couple local experts.
01:39If people are coming here and they want to move around, the most important thing is you
01:43got to look up our subway systems before you get here.
01:45We also don't know what the hell is going on.
01:47Okay?
01:47There's an announcement that sounds like a dinosaur is eating a tin can that's telling
01:52you the one train you're on has now switched to a different track.
01:54But most importantly, it will get you somewhere close.
01:57And that's I think super important because the stadium that is going to play the games
02:00is not in New York City proper.
02:02It is outside.
02:03And now you can't take an Uber to it because they just announced they're not even allowing
02:06a parking lot.
02:07You're going to have to take public transportation to New Jersey.
02:10There's going to be big signs.
02:11Everyone's going to be doing it together.
02:13If you are from a nation and you're going to a game at MetLife that that nation is playing,
02:17follow everyone in the same shirt you're in.
02:19That's a good, yeah.
02:20The final is going to be here in New York.
02:22New York is a place that for the longest time, we're both children of immigrants.
02:26We have a big statue in the water that tells you we welcome everyone.
02:29Well, now everyone's coming and I can't wait.
02:38Guadalajara.
02:38There's going to be a top destination in Mexico to see games and they will all take
02:42place at Estadio Acron just outside the city to get there.
02:46Usually people drive.
02:47It's about 30 minutes by car.
02:48But I imagine with the World Cup traffic, you're going to want to do a combo of the train
02:52and bus to get there.
02:53Just plug it into Google Maps and it'll do the work for you.
02:56The thing about Guadalajara is you cannot leave without trying two iconic dishes.
03:00So one is birria.
03:01It's really great meat, stewed, served in tacos, you probably know it.
03:04And also their torta ahogada, which is this sandwich that's dipped in a really good sauce
03:08full of more meat.
03:09Luckily, there are a couple places to try these dishes right near the FIFA FanFest downtown.
03:13And those are the Mercado San Juan de Dios and Corona.
03:22Next up is my hometown of Los Angeles.
03:25So the games in LA are going to take place at the SoFi Stadium, which is actually in Inglewood,
03:29California.
03:30Conveniently, it is very close to LAX, the airport.
03:33If you don't have tickets to the actual games, you're going to want to head to FanFest, which
03:37in LA is going to happen at the Coliseum.
03:39So there's going to be live music, tons of different activities, and you're going to
03:42be able to meet fans from all over the world.
03:44LA is famous for not being very walkable, but there's actually a lot to eat and drink
03:48right around SoFi Stadium.
03:49I would say go to Three Weavers Brewery.
03:51There's usually food trucks right outside as well, or you can go to Dulance for soul food.
03:55You can also find Persian food, Italian food, tacos of every kind right there.
04:06This is another fun one.
04:08The stadium is not actually in Dallas, but it's in Arlington, Texas, which is in between
04:12Dallas and Fort Worth, right in the middle.
04:14So you can stay in either if you're going.
04:16And you might know about the stadium because it is incredibly technologically advanced.
04:20There's a retractable roof that can completely cover the stadium in 10 minutes.
04:24As far as the Dallas-Fort Worth games go, there's one place you need to be every night
04:28as far as I'm concerned, and it is Billy Bob's.
04:30This is probably the world's largest honky-tonk.
04:33I believe it.
04:34It has 32 bar stations, a mechanical bowl, huge dance floor.
04:38It has been open since 1981, and it has seen the likes of Willie Nelson and Tonya Tucker on
04:43stage.
04:49Next stop, Mexico City.
04:50The games in Mexico City are going to take place at Estadio Azteca.
04:53For those of you who know Mexico City, you'll know that this is in the south in a neighborhood
04:56called Coyacan.
04:57Famously, it's where Frida Kahlo lived, and you can go visit her house if you book tickets
05:01well in advance.
05:02But it's also nice to walk around this kind of bohemian, laid-back neighborhood, which
05:06also has a great market, Mercado Coyacan, for street food.
05:09As for where to stay in Mexico City, there are a few neighborhoods that are well-loved by travelers,
05:13and for good reason.
05:14Condesa, Roma Norte, and Juarez are all neighborhoods where you can walk out of your hotel or Airbnb
05:18and find everything at your fingertips.
05:20But if you like a little bit more of an old school vibe, which I do, I would suggest going
05:24to Centro, where there's a lot of historic bars that will definitely be playing the games.
05:28Once again, we phoned a friend to get some local tips.
05:30We are very excited about the next FIFA World Cup.
05:33We are going to host five games.
05:34Where in Mexico City specifically can fans go to happen to this energy?
05:39So in Mexico, we are very friendly people, and we are about to stay with family and friends,
05:45and go to the cantinas.
05:47For example, in Mexico, if you want a cantina before the game, maybe in Garibaldi, Tenampa
05:52is a good choice because they have tequila, of course, mezcal.
05:57After the game, you can go to downtown.
06:01The Zocalo is going to have a big fan fest, too, with a big screen.
06:05And there is a lot of restaurants and bars in the balconies that you can see the cathedral,
06:12the Palacio Nacional, the National Palace, and it's going to be very amazing.
06:16Those places are thin.
06:19We are going to have a big party there.
06:20If you are going to the games, please take the trolleys.
06:24They are going to be free.
06:26And check in FIFA World Cup page because they have, like, these recorridos.
06:33They have these routes.
06:36Yes.
06:36Yes, thank you.
06:38Because it's going to be free, it's safe, and it's going to be faster.
06:42Thank you, guys.
06:43My name is Caro Padron from ESPN Mexico.
06:46We are very excited to receive you.
06:48See you at the stadium.
06:49See you at Mexico City.
06:51Go for tacos.
06:52Go for a dream.
06:53Go for a Mexican party.
06:54You're going to enjoy it very much.
07:02Next up, Kansas City.
07:03This is where I'm actually going to go see a game.
07:05And they will all take place at the Arrowhead Stadium, which is usually home to the Kansas City Chiefs
07:10and is a Guinness World Record holder for being the loudest stadium in the world.
07:14So bring in your plugs.
07:16As you probably know, Kansas City is a sports city.
07:19So head to the Power and Light District, where you will find a nine-block strip of sports bars.
07:24And you are definitely going to want to pop into Johnny's Tavern and Sporting KC's No Other Pub.
07:29On my Kansas City itinerary is eating tons of barbecue.
07:32I want to go to Arthur Bryant's and Joe's.
07:34And I'm going to see Argentina play Algeria, and I cannot wait to be amid all the screaming fans.
07:45Philadelphia.
07:46The games are going to take place at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philly.
07:50It is the famous home of the Philadelphia Eagles.
07:53As for where to stay in Philly, you can stay just about anywhere.
07:56It's very well-connected.
07:57But if you're a first-time visitor, I would say stay in Old City.
08:01This is near the historic sites and has beautiful cobblestone streets and a nice historic feel.
08:06If you want a little bit more of a neighborhood experience, go to South Philly.
08:09There are great dive bars to watch the game, and you'll be close via public transportation to the stadium itself.
08:14If you have downtime in the morning or afternoon, head to the 9th Street Italian Market.
08:18This is an open-air market with cheese shops, butcher shops, record stores, a little bit of everything.
08:23You might recognize it from the training montage in Rocky, and it's a great place to spend a few hours.
08:32Next stop, Miami.
08:34So the Miami games will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, which is actually at Miami Gardens,
08:39which, if you look at a map, is sort of halfway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
08:42As for where to engage in the fandom, Miami's neighborhoods like Little Havana and Little Haiti
08:47are going to be great hubs where a lot of communities will come together,
08:50and you are going to find restaurants and sports bars packed to the brim with people watching their team play.
08:54If you want to escape the chaos in Miami, go to the beach.
08:57So you can go to the Miami Beach Boardwalk in the south, which is a nine-mile stretch
09:01where you can bike, rollerblade, walk, sunbathe, whatever.
09:05Or, for even more quiet, go to Mid Beach or North Beach.
09:08We've got another friend on the line with some more tips for you.
09:11What makes Miami a great host city for the World Cup is just the football fever and atmosphere
09:17that exists just day to day, right?
09:19We're not just a soccer town because the World Cup's here.
09:23We're a soccer town through and through, and you'll see that when you get here.
09:26So if you're looking for more of a soccer vibe during days that maybe aren't match days or where there's
09:32not big games on the TV
09:34and you just want to embrace the Miami culture, you'll find pickup games on the beach,
09:38people kicking around, especially during the World Cup.
09:40Who wouldn't want to kick a ball on South Beach with the ocean behind you?
09:44If you've been to Rio, you know that on the beaches in Rio, everybody's playing soccer.
09:49I don't think you'll get it to that extent here in Miami, but you can still get a good memory
09:54there.
09:54And then pickup soccer is also a big thing.
09:57I mean, there's just different pockets in different parts of town.
10:01You can find games in Wynwood, you can find games in North Miami, you can find games pretty much.
10:06And you can find places in downtown in Brickell that have like little fields where you can play.
10:10Thank you guys.
10:11We'll see you on game day here at Hard Rock Stadium.
10:14Take my advice.
10:15Don't be late.
10:16Otherwise, you're going to be kicking yourself for not listening to Franco Penizo.
10:18If you want more tips at Franco Penizo on Twitter slash X and Miami total football for all your inner
10:25Miami coverage.
10:33Atlanta.
10:34The Atlanta games are going to take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
10:37And you can get there by using MARTA, which is the rapid transit which also connects directly to the airport.
10:42In between games, you can experience Atlanta's incredible civil rights history,
10:46or go to artsier neighborhoods like Decatur or Little Five Points, which are walkable, have great art scenes, and tons
10:52of nightlife.
10:59Monterey.
11:00In this city, the games are going to take place at Estadio BBVA.
11:03But if you don't have tickets, you can go to the Fan Fest, which will be in Parque Fundidora.
11:08This is going to have tons of live music, jumbotrons playing the game, and of course, great food.
11:13So you're going to want to look out for Cabarrito, which is baby goat, Machacado, which is dried meat, and
11:19of course, carne asada.
11:26Toronto.
11:27The games in Toronto are going to take place at BMO Field, which is an exhibition place along the city's
11:32waterfront.
11:33Now, this is the first soccer-specific stadium in all of Canada, so it's a great place to see a
11:37game.
11:37In Toronto, you're going to want to dive into the multicultural food scene, and there's a few places to do
11:42that.
11:42In Kensington Market, which is known for its vintage shopping, you'll also find Caribbean patties and great tacos.
11:49There's also Scarborough Market, which has West African food and South Asian cuisine.
11:53And you can go to St. Clair West, which is known for Italian and Portuguese food with Latin American influences.
11:59For even more tips, I've called a local.
12:01What is soccer culture usually like throughout the year in Toronto?
12:04You know, the common, you know, messaging around Canada is that Canada is a hockey country.
12:10But honestly, I feel like Toronto is a soccer city, and people don't really realize it.
12:16The fanfare and the appreciation for the game is here.
12:19It's just from a worldwide scope, people don't know about it yet.
12:22But Toronto is such a multicultural city that within like a 10-kilometer radius, you know, you'll be able to
12:28touch different neighborhoods of Italian communities.
12:31Portuguese, Greeks, Jamaicans, Colombians, Brazilians, Polish people, right?
12:37So there's so many different pockets, and since it's such a melting pot, you'll pretty much be able to get
12:43whatever you want in terms of food, fanfare, culture, right?
12:46So there's so many little pockets.
12:49You want to really feel the festivities, be sure you're there for the national anthem, feel the energy and whatnot.
12:55I would say you want to be at the stadium at least an hour before.
13:00If you could get there too, that'd be great.
13:03You know, you're making your whole day out of it, which is fantastic.
13:05But try to be around Toronto within the mix in that, you know, waterfront area so that, you know, you're
13:12close to the stadium and you're not missing out on any game time.
13:14It's a once in a lifetime event.
13:16Who knows when the World Cup is ever going to come to Toronto ever again.
13:18So I think fans should definitely take advantage of that.
13:21And I would say probably two hours to enjoy those fan festivals, to go visit all those different spots in
13:25Toronto before going into the game.
13:31Next up, Houston.
13:33Houston's games are going to be at the NRG Stadium.
13:36Fun fact, Houston is known as Space City because of the NASA presence.
13:40So if you're traveling with kids, I would definitely suggest going to the Space Center Museum.
13:44They have a ton of interactive exhibits that adults will enjoy as well.
13:47When you're in Houston, make sure to try Viet Cajun food.
13:50So this is an intersection of Cajun flavors and Vietnamese food.
13:54Picture a big crawfish boil, but the spices come from Louisiana, but you're also going to get some lemongrass, some
14:00fish sauce.
14:01There are a ton of restaurants throughout the city, but Houston is known for a bit of traffic.
14:05So look online to find a spot near you.
14:13Boston.
14:14The Boston games are going to take place at Gillette Stadium, which, as every Boston resident has reminded me, is
14:19incredibly far away.
14:20It's basically an hour, whether you're driving or taking the train.
14:24Whichever one you're doing, you need to have booked this, like, yesterday.
14:27Do it now.
14:28You either have to buy a train ticket or get a parking spot at the stadium.
14:32To tap into Boston's iconic sports culture, head to Kenmore Square.
14:36This is the area right around Fenway Park where there are a ton of sports bars and restaurants.
14:41One favorite is Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks, which will be showing all of the games.
14:50Vancouver.
14:51All of the games are going to take place at BC Stadium, which is right in the heart of downtown.
14:56The city is known for having incredible Asian diasporas and so many restaurants that have come from them.
15:00So whether you want sushi, South Asian curries, Korean food, you'll find it all here.
15:05But the stadium itself is actually walkable from historic Chinatown.
15:09You can't talk about Vancouver without talking about its natural beauty.
15:12And one of the best places to experience that right in the heart of the city is at Stanley Park.
15:16So take a walk along the seawall and you'll get sweeping views of the Vancouver Harbor.
15:25San Francisco Bay Area.
15:27So this is another one where the stadium, which is Levi's Stadium, is not actually in the heart of San
15:32Francisco,
15:32but about an hour south in Santa Clara.
15:35So that's why it's part of the greater Bay Area.
15:37If you want easy access to the game, I would suggest staying somewhere where you can access the Caltrain.
15:42So in San Francisco proper, that's somewhere like Mission Bay, Dogpatch, or to be kind of close but still in
15:48the thick of things, the Mission District.
15:50One reason to stick around before or after a game is that Santa Clara is actually known as a bit
15:54of a Koreatown.
15:55It is home to one of the largest Korean populations in the country, which means amazing Korean restaurants.
16:01So a few picks on my end are Jang Soo Jang, Silla, and Pike's Noodle. You will eat so well.
16:13Seattle. So Seattle's games will be played at the Lumen Field, which many have called the most walkable NFL field
16:18in the entire country.
16:20A few things within walking distance are the incredibly fun sports bars of Pioneer Square, the newly revitalized Waterfront Park,
16:28and of course, Pike's Place Market.
16:30So whether you're celebrating win, mourning a loss, or looking to kill some time, there's something for you.
16:39You have questions? I have answers.
16:42I'm going to the Mexico versus South Africa match on June 11th with a group of friends, and it's our
16:47first time visiting Mexico City.
16:49We're only going to one match, so we're going to have a lot of downtime. Is there anything we should
16:54do with our free time? Thanks.
16:56In Mexico City, there are incredible museums if you want to escape from some of the chaos and stimulation.
17:03You will have your pick. I will say you are going to want to book tickets in advance, especially if
17:08you are trying to go to Frida Kahlo's house or any of the Luis Barragón houses.
17:13I'm going to a match in Philly, and while there, I'm trying to also go up to NYC. Do we
17:18need to rent a car or what's the best way to get to New York? And when in Philly, where
17:23do we get a good Philly cheesesteak?
17:27Okay, to get from Philly to New York, you do not need a car. You can take public transportation from
17:3230th Street Station in Philly to Penn Station in New York City, and you use public transport the rest of
17:38the time. Easy.
17:38As for Philly cheesesteaks, it's very subjective. A lot of locals love Angelo's in South Philly, but if you want
17:44a little riff on the classic, there's an Indian fusion Philly cheesesteak at Little Sicily Pizza 2, which is great.
17:49My family is flying in for a match in Dallas. We're going to be there for a few days, and
17:54we're curious what else we should do while we're in town.
18:00Yes. Dallas is actually, fun fact, home to the first ever Six Flags. So it's like a five minute drive
18:07from the stadium. Talk about a good time.
18:09I'm hoping to get to Toronto for a match. Where should I fly into, and what neighborhood is closest to
18:14the stadium?
18:16I have a lot of opinions on this one. The only airport to fly into in Toronto is Billy Bishop.
18:21It is walkable from the stadium. It is walkable from downtown. That's where you need to fly into.
18:28Fly Porter Airlines, which also give you free booths and economy. Hot tip. And if you want to just stay
18:33right there in Liberty Village, you could literally walk from Billy Bishop to your hotel and to the stadium. There
18:39you go.
18:40Thank you so much for staying with us till the end. I am so excited for this year's World Cup.
18:44And if you have any other questions or tips for other fans, leave them in the comments below.
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