Destination & Travel Theme
Destination: United States — 11 host cities across 4 time zones Theme: Road trip road trip across America's World Cup host cities during the biggest sporting event of 2026 Tournament Dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
If you're planning to catch multiple World Cup matches in the US, nothing beats a Road trip road trip that lets you combine iconic American cities, legendary stadiums, and legendary tailgate culture. Here's how to plan it.
The 11 US Host Cities at a Glance
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 | Southeast |
| Boston, MA | Gillette Stadium (Foxborough) | 65,878 | Northeast |
| Dallas, TX | AT&T Stadium (Arlington) | 80,000 | South Central |
| Houston, TX | NRG Stadium | 72,220 | South Central |
| Kansas City, MO | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 | Midwest |
| Los Angeles, CA | SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) | 70,240 | West |
| Miami, FL | Hard Rock Stadium | 65,326 | Southeast |
| New York/New Jersey | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | Northeast (Final Venue) |
| Philadelphia, PA | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,176 | Northeast |
| San Francisco Bay Area | Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara) | 68,500 | West |
| Seattle, WA | Lumen Field | 69,000 | Pacific Northwest |
Recommended Road Trip Routes
<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1707326294164-51aaf7013031?w=800&h=600&fit=crop" alt="Beautiful American highway stretching across the country" />
The 11 US cities span the entire country — no single road trip covers all of them. Here are three focused regional itineraries.
Route 1: The East Coast Circuit (Boston → Philadelphia → New York)
<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1541262219680-541c15f59e15?w=800&h=600&fit=crop" alt="Long straight highway road stretching to the horizon" />
Drive time: ~5 hours total | Best for: Group stage + knockout rounds, including the Final
- Boston → Philadelphia: ~7 hours (highway I-95 South), or fly (~1.5 hrs)
- Philadelphia → MetLife Stadium (NJ): ~2 hours (very doable as a day trip from Philly)
- Best use: Watch group stage in Boston or Philly, then head to MetLife for the Final on July 19
Tip: Book MetLife Final tickets early — they sold out within hours of release. The stadium is in East Rutherford, NJ, accessible from NYC via NJ Transit from Penn Station.
Route 2: The Southern Triangle (Atlanta → Miami → Dallas)
<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508495761350-6a8bf2a2128a?w=800&h=600&fit=crop" alt="Scenic Pacific Coast Highway with coastal views" />
Drive time: ~12 hours total | Best for: Combining sunny stadiums with great food and culture
- Atlanta → Miami: ~11 hours (I-75 South), or fly (~2.5 hrs)
- Miami → Dallas: ~19 hours via I-10 West — consider flying this leg (~3 hrs)
- Best use: Miami group stage matches + Dallas knockout rounds (AT&T Stadium is the largest venue in the Americas by capacity when expanded)
Dallas fan tip: AT&T Stadium in Arlington has a retractable roof and air conditioning — crucial in Texas summer heat. The stadium has its own Arlington Texrail train connection from downtown Fort Worth.
Route 3: The West Coast Drive (Seattle → San Francisco → Los Angeles)
<img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1707326294164-51aaf7013031?w=800&h=600&fit=crop" alt="Beautiful American highway stretching across the country" /> Drive time: ~20 hours total (Pacific Coast Highway option) | Best for: Scenic drive + tech culture + beach vibes
- Seattle → San Francisco Bay Area: ~14 hours (I-5 South), or fly (~2.5 hrs). The Pacific Coast Highway (US-1) adds 2-3 days but is unforgettable.
- San Francisco Bay Area → Los Angeles: ~6 hours (US-101 via Big Sur, or I-5 fast route)
- Best use: Group stage at Seattle and SF, then knockout matches at SoFi (LA)
Scenic PCH detour: Carmel-by-the-Sea, Big Sur cliffs, Santa Barbara wine country — one of the world's most iconic coastal drives.
Budget Per Person (2 weeks, 2-3 city circuit)
| Category | Budget Option | Mid-Range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights (international into US) | $600–900 | $900–1,400 | $1,500+ |
| Car rental (2 weeks) | $400–600 | $600–900 | $900–1,500 |
| Accommodation (per night) | $60–90 (hostel/motel) | $120–200 (hotel) | $250+ |
| World Cup tickets (per match) | $200–500 (group stage) | $500–1,200 (knockouts) | $2,000+ (Final) |
| Food & drinks | $40–60/day | $70–120/day | $150+/day |
| Gas (2,000 miles) | ~$250 | ~$250 | ~$250 |
Estimated total (2 weeks, 2 matches, mid-range): $3,500–5,500 per person
What to Do in Each Host City (Beyond the Games)
🏙️ Atlanta, GA
- Must-do: National Center for Civil and Human Rights, Georgia Aquarium (world's largest), Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
- Food: Try authentic Southern BBQ at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q; Beltline food hall for local food trucks
- Drive: Atlanta to Savannah (4 hours) for a beautiful historic city detour
🦞 Boston, MA
- Must-do: Freedom Trail walking tour, Boston Common, Harvard Square
- Food: New England clam chowder at Quincy Market; lobster roll at Legal Sea Foods
- Day trip: Cape Cod (1.5 hours), Plymouth Rock (1 hour)
🤠 Dallas, TX
- Must-do: The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (JFK assassination site), Deep Ellum arts district, Fort Worth Stockyards (30 min from Dallas)
- Food: Franklin Barbecue (Austin, 3 hrs) is worth the detour; locally try Pecan Lodge for brisket
- Night: Bishop Arts District for independent shops and bars
🚀 Houston, TX
- Must-do: NASA Space Center Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Buffalo Bayou Park
- Food: Diverse food city — try Viet-Cajun crawfish in Houston's Little Saigon
- Tip: Houston summers are brutally hot (35°C+) — NRG Stadium's retractable roof means cool indoor comfort
🎸 Kansas City, MO
- Must-do: National WWI Museum, Country Club Plaza, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Food: Kansas City BBQ is world-famous — Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is the benchmark
- Tip: Kansas City straddles Missouri and Kansas; the stadium is 15 minutes from downtown
🌴 Los Angeles, CA
- Must-do: Santa Monica Pier & beach, Getty Museum (free), Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory for city views
- Food: Grand Central Market for multicultural street food; excellent Korean BBQ in Koreatown
- Day trip: Drive up to Malibu for celebrity-spotting beach vibes
🌊 Miami, FL
- Must-do: Art Deco Historic District in South Beach, Wynwood Walls street art, Little Havana for Cuban culture
- Food: Cuban sandwiches and pastelitos in Little Havana; fresh seafood on Brickell waterfront
- Day trip: Florida Keys road trip via the Overseas Highway (stunning 7-mile bridge)
🗽 New York / New Jersey
- Must-do: Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge walk, High Line, One World Trade Center Observatory
- Food: Slice of NY pizza (Joe's on Carmine St); dim sum in Chinatown; ramen in East Village
- Getting to MetLife Stadium: NJ Transit from Penn Station (35 min) — avoid driving on match days
🔔 Philadelphia, PA
- Must-do: Liberty Bell & Independence Hall, Eastern State Penitentiary, Reading Terminal Market
- Food: Philly cheesesteak at Pat's vs. Geno's (a local rite of passage); soft pretzels everywhere
- Note: Lincoln Financial Field is 20 minutes south of downtown by SEPTA subway
🌉 San Francisco Bay Area
- Must-do: Golden Gate Bridge (walk across), Alcatraz Island tour, Fisherman's Wharf, Muir Woods redwoods
- Food: Sourdough bread at Boudin Bakery; Mission District burritos; Napa Valley wine country (1 hr)
- To Levi's Stadium: Take Caltrain from SF to Santa Clara (~1 hr)
☕ Seattle, WA
- Must-do: Pike Place Market (watch fish-throwing), Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Mount Rainier day trip
- Food: Best fresh oysters in the US; teriyaki is a Seattle staple; coffee culture at original Starbucks
- Road trip add-on: Olympic National Park (2.5 hrs west) has rainforest, beaches, and glacier-capped peaks
Practical Driving Tips in the US
1. International Driving License: Most foreign licenses are valid in the US for up to 1 year, but carry an IDP as backup 2. Speed limits: 65–75 mph (105–120 km/h) on most interstates; much lower in urban areas — speed cameras and police are active 3. Gas: Plentiful and cheap by global standards (~$3.50–4.50/gallon in 2026). Pay at the pump with a chip card (PIN required for foreign cards) 4. Highways: Most interstates are free; some East Coast stretches (I-95, NJ Turnpike) have tolls — get an E-ZPass for convenience 5. Parking at stadiums: Tailgate culture means arriving 3–4 hours early for parking lots near the stadium; costs $30–80/match 6. Transit alternatives: Most US cities have stadium-to-transit options (SEPTA in Philly, MetroRail in Houston, Caltrain in SF) — use them on match days to avoid gridlock
Local Customs & Stadium Tips
1. Tailgating: Pre-game BBQ parties in stadium parking lots are a beloved American tradition — join the festivities! 2. Alcohol: Legal at all stadiums (21+ with ID); US beer culture is strong but craft beer options are excellent 3. Queue culture: Americans queue orderly; don't skip the line 4. Tipping: 18–20% at restaurants is standard; tipping at bars ($1 per drink) is expected 5. Weather prep: Summer in the South and Midwest means extreme heat — carry water, wear SPF, and know that many stadiums are air-conditioned 6. Official Tickets: Buy ONLY via FIFA's official ticketing platform or verified resellers like Viagogo — scams are rampant near stadiums
Visa & Entry Tips
- US Visa: Citizens of most European, East Asian, and Oceanian countries qualify for the ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) — apply online at least 72 hours before travel, costs $21
- ESTA validity: 2 years / multiple entries, up to 90 days per visit
- Passport validity: Must be valid for the duration of your stay
- Entry form: Complete the new CBP One app declaration before landing to speed up customs
- Currency: US Dollar (USD); credit cards accepted everywhere; tip in cash when possible
Cover Image
https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1508098682722-e99c643e7f0b?w=1200&h=630&fit=crop
Sources: FIFA World Cup 2026 official website, stadium capacity data verified June 2026