The FIFA 2026 World Cup visa and travel guide

The 2026 FIFA World Cup presents a unique set of challenges, and travelers must navigate the immigration laws of three different countries.

We’ve created this 2026 World Cup travel guide to help you understand this sporting extravaganza and avoid getting caught offside.

Getting ready for kick-off 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, and promises to be the pinnacle of football excellence. For the first time, 48 teams will compete for the coveted trophy, with a staggering 104 matches played in host cities across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Yup, you read that right. A hat-trick of host nations will work together to make this iteration unforgettable. This means triple the culture and fun and, unfortunately, triple the red tape when traveling for a cross-border match.

Don’t fret just yet. At iVisa, we take care of the paperwork so that you can get ready for kick-off!

FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities and stadiums

For those keeping track, the ‘26 World Cup will be played in the world's 2nd, 4th, and 14th largest countries.

That means the distances between the host cities are on a scale that no tournament has ever dealt with. To address this, FIFA grouped the host cities and stadiums into 3 separate regions:

2026 World Cup Western region

Vancouver, Canada

• Stadium: BC Place
• Number of matches: 7
• Biggest match: Round of 16, Tuesday, 7 July 2026.
  
  

Seattle, USA

• Stadium: Lumen Field
• Number of matches: 6
• Biggest match: Round of 16, Monday, 6 July 2026
  
  

San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), USA

• Stadium: Levi’s Stadium
• Number of matches: 6
• Biggest match: Round of 32, Wednesday, 1 July 2026
  
  

Los Angeles, USA

• Stadium: SoFi Stadium
• Number of matches: 8
• Biggest match: Quarter-Finals, Wednesday, 10 July 2026

2026 World Cup Central region

Gaudalajara, Mexico

• Stadium: Estadio Akron
• Number of matches: 4
• Biggest match: Group stage matches only
  
  

Mexico City, Mexico

• Stadium: Estadio Azteca
• Number of matches: 5
• Biggest match: Round of 16, Sunday, 5 July
  
  

Monterrey, Mexico

• Stadium: Estadio BBVA
• Number of matches: 4
• Biggest match: Round of 32, Monday, 29 June
  
  

Houston, USA

• Stadium: NRG Stadium
• Number of matches: 7
• Biggest match: Round of 16, Saturday, 4 July
  
  

Dallas, USA

• Stadium: AT&T Stadium
• Number of matches: 9
• Biggest match: Semi-Final, Tuesday, 14 July
  
  

Kansas City, USA

• Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium
• Number of matches: 6
• Biggest match: Quarter-Final, Saturday, 11 July

2026 World Cup Eastern region

Toronto, Canada

• Stadium: BMO Field
• Number of matches: 6
• Biggest match: Round of 32, Thursday, 2 July
  
  

Atlanta, USA

• Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Number of matches: 8
• Biggest match: Semi-Final, Wednesday, 15 July
  
  

Miami, USA

• Stadium: Hard Rock Stadium
• Number of matches: 7
• Biggest match: 3rd place play-off, Saturday, 18 July
  
  

Boston, USA

• Stadium: Gillette Stadium
• Number of matches: 7
• Biggest match: Quarter-Final, Thursday, 9 July
  
  

Philadelphia, USA

• Stadium: Lincoln Financial Field
• Number of matches: 6
• Biggest match: 3rd place play-off, Saturday, 4 July
  
  

New York & New Jersey, USA

• Stadium: MetLife Stadium
• Number of matches: 8
• Biggest match: Final, Sunday, 19 July

Navigating your visa requirements for the ‘26 FIFA World Cup

Multiple countries will host the Football World Cup for only the second time – the first being the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan. It’s fair to say that international travel is a bit more complicated this time around, with the USA, Canada, and Mexico all employing vastly different visa policies.

Don't worry, we’ll help you navigate the visa requirements like Lamine Yamal navigates through the final third.

Here’s a handy tool to check what visa or travel document you need. Simply enter the nationality of your passport and one of the host countries, and let us do the work for you.

US visa and travel documents for the ‘26 FIFA World Cup

US ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)

• Who’s it for? Nationalities that qualify for the US’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries.
• How long can you stay? 90 days per entry for tourism or business.
• How long is it valid for: The US ESTA lasts 2 years, so you can apply for it in 2025 and travel in 2026.
• Processing time: Usually within 72 hours, but our services can speed the process up significantly, with our Super Rush delivering a 1-hour turnaround.

US B1/B2 Visitor visa

• Who’s it for? Countries not qualifying for the US’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
• How long can you stay? Typically 180 days, but the exact duration will be determined by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry and will be recorded on your I-94 form.
• How long is it valid for? A US B1/B2 Visitor visa is usually valid for multiple entries over 10 years so you can apply for it well in advance.
• Processing time: Processing times vary by nationality and where you apply from, but can be anything from a couple of weeks to several months.

Canada visa and travel documents for the ‘26 FIFA World Cup

Canada ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)

• Who’s it for? Visa-exempt travelers flying into Canada.
• How long can you stay? Up to 6 months per visit.
• How long is it valid for? 5 years, or until your passport expires.
• Processing time: Usually within 72 hours, but our services can speed the process up significantly, with our Super Rush delivering a 6-hour turnaround.

Canada Advance CBSA Declaration (ArriveCAN)

• Who’s it for? All international travelers entering Canada by air, including Canadian residents and citizens.
• How long can you stay? Depends on the passport or the visa you’re traveling with.
• How long is it valid for? One declaration is valid for one entry into Canada. You must submit a new declaration when you exit the country and re-enter by air.
• Processing time: Usually within 24 hours, but our services can speed the process up significantly, with our Super Rush delivering a 30-minute turnaround.

Canada Visitor visa

• Who’s it for? All international travelers who don’t qualify for visa-exempt travel to Canada.
• How long can you stay? Allows a maximum stay in Canada of 6 months, but a border services officer will determine the period of stay at your port of entry.
• How long is it valid for? Up to 10 years, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Processing time: Processing times vary by nationality and where you apply from, but can be anything from a couple of weeks to several months.

Mexico visa and travel documents for the ‘26 FIFA World Cup

Mexico ETA (SAE Authorization)

• Who’s it for? The Mexico Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), also known as Sistema de Autorización Electrónica (SAE), is available for citizens of Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine who are arriving by air.
• How long can you stay? You may stay for a maximum of 180 days per entry.
• How long is it valid for? The Mexico ETA is valid for 30 days from the issue date. You must enter the country during that period, after which you can stay for 180 days.
• Processing time: Usually within 24 hours, but our services can speed the process up significantly, with our Super Rush delivering a 30-minute turnaround.

Mexico Tourist Card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple - FMM)

• Who’s it for? Foreign nationals visiting Mexico for tourism or other short-term purposes, even if they enjoy visa-exempt travel to Mexico.
• How long can you stay? You may stay for a maximum of 180 days per entry.
• How long is it valid for? It’s valid per entry into Mexico. If you leave the country and return, you’ll need a new Tourist Card.
• Processing time: Usually within 24 hours, but our services can speed the process up significantly, with our Super Rush delivering a 30-minute turnaround.

Mexico Tourist visa

• Who’s it for? Foreign nationals who don’t qualify for the Mexico ETA or visa-exempt travel.
• How long can you stay? You may stay for a maximum of 180 days per entry, but a border services officer will determine the period of stay at your port of entry.
• How long is it valid for? A Mexican tourist visa may be valid for multiple entries over 10 years, but the permitted stay for each entry is limited to 180 days.
• Processing time: Typically 1-15 working days from the date of your embassy interview.

Important dates to remember for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Savvy travelers who want to plan according to the groups that their teams are seeded in should keep a close eye on the following dates:

• First phase of World Cup tickets goes on sale: 10 September 2025.
• Final draw for the group stage seeds: Early December 2025, specific date to be confirmed.
• Final qualifying teams determined: End of March 2026.

iVisa’s travel tips for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

At iVisa, we believe travelers should collect memories, not paperwork. That’s why we’ve spent the last decade becoming the leading authority on travel documents worldwide. Below, you’ll find some of the tips that ensure our travelers are never left high and dry.

• Apply for your visa or travel document way ahead of time: Most US, Canada, and Mexico travel documents are valid for long periods. Apply early and miss out on any last-minute scrambling or government portals crashing due to a sudden increase in demand.

• Double-check your documents: Make sure that you have everything you need before applying and that you’re applying for the correct travel document. Use our optimized application process to eliminate small mistakes before they lead to big delays.

• Book your flights early: Dates closer to the tournament will see an increase in price as demand picks up. Book ahead, and pick flights to host cities acting as travel hubs, like Dallas, Atlanta, or Los Angeles.

• Use flexible dates to avoid rescheduling issues or airfare hikes.

• Plan your itinerary carefully. The host cities are miles apart, and rail connections aren’t always available.

• Make use of FIFA’s Fan Zones. These areas will feature open-air broadcasts usually accompanied by music, food, and entertainment.

Introducing the WC Travel Pass 26

Making sense of all the different travel regulations across the three host countries is as exhausting as playing 90 minutes against a team with a deadly high press.

That’s why we’ve created the WC Travel Pass 26 – a single application that will solve your travel document needs for the entire tournament.

How does the WC Travel Pass 26 work?

It’s simple: You apply once, selecting which of the three host countries you want to visit. You can choose one, two, or all three, and any combination is valid.

Next, our team of travel experts completes each individual application, doing all the heavy lifting for you.

Finally, you’re emailed your travel documents as they become available.

Why Choose iVisa

At iVisa, we believe you should collect memories – not paperwork. That’s why we’ve been cutting through bureaucratic red tape for over a decade, helping over half a million travelers with their travel documents.

• Multi-language support: Apply in your preferred language.
• No time limits: Pause and resume anytime.
• 24/7 human support: Get expert help via WhatsApp or iVisa chat.
• Apply for multiple travelers: Submit applications for your entire family at once..
• Easy passport upload: Our team checks your submission for accuracy.
• Fewer steps, no hassle: Skip facial scans and security codes for a smoother process.
• More payment options: Use PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or credit/debit card.