We compiled the best road trip routes in the United States for the 2026 World Cup.
The United States will host 60 games in 11 stadiums across the country during the 2026 World Cup, the first World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries (the United States, Mexico, and Canada). It's going to be insane.
The United States will be hosting the World Cup for the second time.
Although there are more than enough venues for the competition in tourist-attracting cities in the United States, there is growing dissatisfaction with one aspect of venue selection in such a large country.
The main distinction between the World Cups in 2022 and 2026
Qatar built eight stadiums in Doha for the 2022 World Cup, creating a jam-packed soccer experience for fans who could attend multiple games on the same day if they so desired. The longest distance between stadiums was approximately 40 miles.
Unlike in Qatar, the stadiums for the upcoming World Cup were not built specifically for the tournament, and given that the United States is one of the largest countries in the world, the distance between venues will be significantly greater than in 2022. The closest distance between stadiums for the 2026 World Cup will be 95 miles. Prepare to travel, soccer fans.
Long-distance travel, more lodging, and higher costs are among soccer fans' concerns for the upcoming tournament.
Nonetheless, while these may be perceived as a nuisance by many, we at The18 believe that this is an excellent opportunity to capitalize on the disadvantages that this World Cup will bring in comparison to 2022.
Given the distances between tournament venues and games, we offer fans planning to attend the World Cup in 2026 a fun and unique way to make the most of the tournament's return to the United States since 1994: road-tripping!
The locations of the 11 venues in the United States will allow for the creation of three distinct road trip routes.
You can rent and pack the classic American road trip RV with your family and friends, or you can go solo into what will be the largest World Cup (48 teams) in history. You will be able to watch the World Cup while also visiting some of America's most well-known cities and tourist attractions.
Without further ado, here are the best cities in the United States to start a road trip to for the 2026 World Cup.
