Planning trip to USA and/or Canada for WC 2026, any tips and advice?

[Benoau]

Hello!

So fast forward to 10th of July, 2025 - I am looking at the group stage for my 5th World Cup. The US and Canadian dollar is really strong so eating out/tipping every time is going to be a pain. The solution, All Inclusive resorts in Mexico!

Looking to base in Cancun (hop and skip to Houston, Dallas, Miami and domestic Mexico) or Puerto Vallarta close to Guadalajara, you can enjoy all inclusive on all days but travel to games close by that pull your interest (you won't know until the draw).

As for flights, I have seen some Economy seats to Dallas, LAX and SFO. PE and Business not so much.

Hope this idea gives you another POV

 

[trooper]

3 or 4 Skycouches on NZ? Just another thought. 4 would price slightly LESS than 5 x PE. Two littleist kids share one? Not sure how easy to GET 4 on one flight (and suspect you'd have to call if you wanted it all on one booking) Oz-AKL-LAX/SFO isn't a bad transit.

 

[trooper]

Hello!

So fast forward to 10th of July, 2025 - I am looking at the group stage for my 5th World Cup. The US and Canadian dollar is really strong so eating out/tipping every time is going to be a pain. The solution, All Inclusive resorts in Mexico!

Looking to base in Cancun (hop and skip to Houston, Dallas, Miami and domestic Mexico) or Puerto Vallarta close to Guadalajara, you can enjoy all inclusive on all days but travel to games close by that pull your interest (you won't know until the draw).

As for flights, I have seen some Economy seats to Dallas, LAX and SFO. PE and Business not so much.

Hope this idea gives you another POV

How many side trips like that? Wouldn't the cost of those flights remove any savings?

 

[jase05]

Hello!

So fast forward to 10th of July, 2025 - I am looking at the group stage for my 5th World Cup. The US and Canadian dollar is really strong so eating out/tipping every time is going to be a pain. The solution, All Inclusive resorts in Mexico!

Looking to base in Cancun (hop and skip to Houston, Dallas, Miami and domestic Mexico) or Puerto Vallarta close to Guadalajara, you can enjoy all inclusive on all days but travel to games close by that pull your interest (you won't know until the draw).

As for flights, I have seen some Economy seats to Dallas, LAX and SFO. PE and Business not so much.

Hope this idea gives you another POV

Yes, we too are heading to WC number 5 for us. We were going anyway but with my current US trip cut short I’ve got thousands tied up in flight credits and accomodation credits so going to try and utilise some of that money and probably look to go for 6 weeks. Our best friends daughter is having her 18th in Bali and we will probably start with a week there and pick up QR J from CGK-JFK which is often really decently priced. Haven’t even looked into much else yet

 

[Benoau]

How many side trips like that? Wouldn't the cost of those flights remove any savings?

Well, that depends on your plan. I have already come to acceptance that if Australia ends up playing in Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, Seattle (or anywhere far north of Mexico) that I won't end up going to those matches. I'm hoping that basing myself close to the middle of Miami, Dallas, Houston and within mexico that I increase my chances not only for Australia but any other world class match that may come from the draw. Another thing - not everyone will think of Cancun straight away - it's not a host city.

For Puerto Vallarta, The west coast time zone and the fact you can catch a bus to Guadalajara makes this an attractive option and again, not everyone thinks of Puerto Vallarta straight up.

For the US and Canada, unless you know people or are a solo that is happy to hostel it, hotels are going to hurt and on USD. The dollar is so strong and to tip every time, 3 times a day even for meals and alcohol on top of that is going to make american great again.

In the end, my mate and I ended up holding accommodation for 18 nights in both Cancun and Vallarta for around AUD$206.00 per night, all inclusive of food and alcohol. We paid that in Qatar for a coughty donga haha

 

[Benoau]

Yes, we too are heading to WC number 5 for us. We were going anyway but with my current US trip cut short I’ve got thousands tied up in flight credits and accomodation credits so going to try and utilise some of that money and probably look to go for 6 weeks. Our best friends daughter is having her 18th in Bali and we will probably start with a week there and pick up QR J from CGK-JFK which is often really decently priced. Haven’t even looked into much else yet

Those flight and hotel credits will be gold! my mate and I have room held in Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. I used points to LAX and will book to CUN or PVR once the draw reveals itself. Although we hope to catch the Socceroos, we won't venture too far North. I am half Dutch and my mate is half Portuguese so we some "extra options" haha

 

[sonalikaverma]

was looking for the advice, thanks.

 

[cove]

Our two sons booked business class Air Fiji to Los Angeles using Qantas points to get to the World Cup. The points were a bargain.