Will the 2026 World Cup affect your travel plans in 2026? ⚽️ 🏟🏆

[Babs Johnson]

I attended a match in Washington DC in 1994. Since DC or Baltimore didn’t make the cut, I’m unlikely to attend in 2026.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I attended a match in Washington DC in 1994. Since DC or Baltimore didn’t make the cut, I’m unlikely to attend in 2026.

Philadelphia isn't that far from you.

 

[tvguy]

Too soon to know, but there has been some discussion of Los Angeles pulling out of the World Cup. The hotel rooms may not be available due to the need to house people who lost their homes in the fires.

 

[SnowBeast]

The latest news story about that Philadelphia fan definitely didn't help their reputation. WC fans as a whole are very respectful (there a few exceptions like England fans). Most are passionate about their country's team but also want to see what the host country has to offer as well. 48 teams qualify (including the ) but fans from over 200 countries come to the WC every tournament.

Hi Buzz, I think in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s I would agree. Some matches were like a war zone with fans fighting in the streets and even inside the stadiums and on the pitch. English clubs were actually banned from European competitions for about 5 years in 1985. In the years following the ban, I think it was actually more problems caused by other countries’ fans attacking the English because they wanted to ‘settle scores’. We’re not anywhere as bad as that now; they’ll be singing and chanting outside pubs with maybe a handful of idiots getting into drunken brawls, but the massive majority will just enjoy themselves and will absolutely love to chat to the locals.

Seriously we’re a really friendly bunch (drunk maybe) but friendly, so just say hello and get involved, the atmosphere will be amazing outside the grounds.

Also I just remembered your drinking age is 21 so lots of our fans won’t even be able to drink so that should also keep everything calmer.

 

[RedAngie]

Maybe I’ll go to a match in Philadelphia. Or who knows, maybe another city as part of a vacation there. But I wouldn’t decide until maybe a month before. See if tickets on the secondary market aren’t too unreasonably priced.

 

[Babs Johnson]

Philadelphia isn't that far from you.

That’s a possibility. It’s still a year and a half away. Easy day trip.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Hi Buzz, I think in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s I would agree. Some matches were like a war zone with fans fighting in the streets and even inside the stadiums and on the pitch. English clubs were actually banned from European competitions for about 5 years in 1985. In the years following the ban, I think it was actually more problems caused by other countries’ fans attacking the English because they wanted to ‘settle scores’. We’re not anywhere as bad as that now; they’ll be singing and chanting outside pubs with maybe a handful of idiots getting into drunken brawls, but the massive majority will just enjoy themselves and will absolutely love to chat to the locals.

Seriously we’re a really friendly bunch (drunk maybe) but friendly, so just say hello and get involved, the atmosphere will be amazing outside the grounds.

Also I just remembered your drinking age is 21 so lots of our fans won’t even be able to drink so that should also keep everything calmer.

I should of said a limited number of supporters from nations with that reputation could be an issue. Obviously I meant majority of fans of every nation as a whole are awsome people in general. But I will say for some Europeans visiting America for the first time or just the first time beyond WDW/DL, it may be a little of a culture shock. If you visit one of my culture threads, you can see that regional culture in the USA is as diverse as our general population. It should be noted that some Americans are not even aware we are hosting the biggest international tournament in history. I have nothing against the English or our friendly banter. I just think that supporters are going to have to realize that the soccer culture and fandom is still evolving along with its growing passion of the sport. We have a knowledgeable fanbase in general and unfortunately I feel some of the idiots that are ignorant of that will try to purposely egg on some fans just to get a negative reaction. 2026 is America's real last shot to truly grow the game. I'm hoping for the best happy fan moments with international visitors gets the most coverage but fear the negative ones will receive the most headlines and thus turning potential fans away from the sport. England and its fans are most welcome here @SnowBeast . I highly recommend you and your fellow citizens try to experience the best America has to offer its visitors and get to know American culture and its people (not what is just perceived from tv and the internet). As a side note, I do own an England kit along with my USA kit.

 

[SnowBeast]

I should have said a limited number of supporters from nations with that reputation could be an issue. Obviously I meant majority of fans of every nation as a whole are awsome people in general. But I will say for some Europeans visiting America for the first time or just the first time beyond WDW/DL, it may be a little of a culture shock. If you visit one of my culture threads, you can see that regional culture in the USA is as diverse as our general population. It should be noted that some Americans are not even aware we are hosting the biggest international tournament in history. I have nothing against the English or our friendly banter. I just think that supporters are going to have to realize that the soccer culture and fandom is still evolving along with its growing passion of the sport. We have a knowledgeable fanbase in general and unfortunately I feel some of the idiots that are ignorant of that will try to purposely egg on some fans just to get a negative reaction. 2026 is America's real last shot to truly grow the game. I'm hoping for the best happy fan moments with international visitors gets the most coverage but fear the negative ones will receive the most headlines and thus turning potential fans away from the sport. England and its fans are most welcome here @SnowBeast . I highly recommend you and your fellow citizens try to experience the best America has to offer its visitors and get to know American culture and its people (not what is just perceived from tv and the internet). As a side note, I do own an England kit along with my USA kit.

No problem Buzz, I understood you meant that it will be a minority of idiots from England causing problems. I was just adding to that that I think even the reputation of that minority of fans is probably based on bad reputation from decades ago. So basically any problems caused by a tiny minority will be more like petty drunken problems not the mass battles that the media have shown on tv in the past…if that makes sense.

Anyway regarding the culture shock, I remember the first time visiting places around California and Florida (outside the Disney bubble) and it was actually this that made me love the US even more because you get to meet real people who are nothing like the Hollywood celebs that are spoon fed to us over here on tv. Our fans will love you guys.

I remember when London hosted the 2012 Olympics; I have never really been that interested in the Olympics but once the media buzz started I got caught up along with most of the country in the Olympic fever and loved it (I even managed to get tickets to go see some events). This could be the same over there with the World Cup especially in the cities that are hosting the US matches.

I think it will be a fantastic tournament anyway, i just hope you guys don’t get too enthusiastic about football (sorry soccer) because you’re already becoming a very good footballing nation and I’m sure if it carries on that way you will be up there with the best in a few more years and we don’t need even more competition .

 

[Buzz Rules]

No problem Buzz, I understood you meant that it will be a minority of idiots from England causing problems. I was just adding to that that I think even the reputation of that minority of fans is probably based on bad reputation from decades ago. So basically any problems caused by a tiny minority will be more like petty drunken problems not the mass battles that the media have shown on tv in the past…if that makes sense.

Anyway regarding the culture shock, I remember the first time visiting places around California and Florida (outside the Disney bubble) and it was actually this that made me love the US even more because you get to meet real people who are nothing like the Hollywood celebs that are spoon fed to us over here on tv. Our fans will love you guys.

I remember when London hosted the 2012 Olympics; I have never really been that interested in the Olympics but once the media buzz started I got caught up along with most of the country in the Olympic fever and loved it (I even managed to get tickets to go see some events). This could be the same over there with the World Cup especially in the cities that are hosting the US matches.

I think it will be a fantastic tournament anyway, i just hope you guys don’t get too enthusiastic about football (sorry soccer) because you’re already becoming a very good footballing nation and I’m sure if it carries on that way you will be up there with the best in a few more years and we don’t need even more competition .

Thanks for the response. We are definitely going to be a permanent top 20 team post 2026. USSF is currently building our version of St. George's Park in Atlanta (it's set to open in spring 2026). MLS (I don't know if you follow the league at all, it's on Apple TV by the way) now has 30 teams (San Diego FC debuts in a month from now) and academies and the USL (the USA's second, third, and fourth division) is also expanding this year. I make a lot of soccer threads on the Disboards (I'm kind of known as the "soccer guy" on the Disboards) so if you are interested in the American soccer system, I have a thread on that. I will have a new MLS/USL season thread for this year on the Disboards. The USA actually has two friendlies this week and next week (it's mostly a C squad being made up of MLS players, with our A team European based players returning in March). This is the MLS and USL websites if you are interested:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/

https://www.uslsoccer.com/

As far as tourism during the WC, if you go to NY at all, I highly recommend exploring some of the Hudson Valley (it's just north of NYC). It's full of American Revolution history and also shows how the English, Dutch, French and Native American cultures influenced the region. I'm slightly biased though since I'm from there.

Here's one of the tourism websites if you are interested in the future:

https://travelhudsonvalley.com/

I'm still hoping for a historic USA vs England match on the 4th of July. It will be special for non Americans to experience our national holiday upclose during the tournament if they never have before. Feel free to post questions here if you have any on visiting the USA during the tournament. Good luck to England in their March WCQs (the USA will be playing in their Concacaf Nations League semi final match and match final).

 

[_19disnA]

We don't plan our travel that far in advance. No interest in soccer so unless the crowds are the size of the Olympics (doubt they will be), don't see it would really matter. I think some of those soccer matches were held in the past near where I used to live and can't recall it being any sort of problem with traffic/crowds/etc.

 

[Buzz Rules]

We don't plan our travel that far in advance. No interest in soccer so unless the crowds are the size of the Olympics (doubt they will be), don't see it would really matter. I think some of those soccer matches were held in the past near where I used to live and can't recall it being any sort of problem with traffic/crowds/etc.

The World Cup is bigger than the Olympics and so will the fanbase visiting. The Gold Cup, Nations League, and Copa America tournaments held here are much smaller in terms of size and competition. Don't forget, it's a month long tournament with fanfests, activities, and hundreds of thousands of global fans visiting (some to America for the first time).

 

[john7994]

I'm curious @kdonnel , are Atlanta residents excited to be hosting the WC and being the national training center's home city?

I live in Atlanta and my barber is excited and I like my barber - he knows how to cut my hairs just right.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I live in Atlanta and my barber is excited and I like my barber - he knows how to cut my hairs just right.

He follows Italy right?

 

[john7994]

He follows Italy right?

Good Memory - Juventus - 10 points to Gryffindor!

 

[Buzz Rules]

Good Memory - Juventus - 10 points to Gryffindor!

He's going to be mad when Italy looses the Nations League.

 

[john7994]

He's going to be mad when Italy looses the Nations League.

I think he takes the long view on such things - and he is just a big soccer fan in general as evidenced by always having a game on the big screen (which I always ask him to change to a day time game show or Disney movie)

 

[Buzz Rules]

I think he takes the long view on such things - and he is just a big soccer fan in general as evidenced by always having a game on the big screen (which I always ask him to change to a day time game show or Disney movie)

The Italian fanbase is a little impatient at the moment given the 2022 fiasco. Juventus is also struggling this season. I'm happy his passion for the beautiful game never waivers though.

 

[john7994]

The Italian fanbase is a little impatient at the moment given the 2022 fiasco. Juventus is also struggling this season. I'm happy his passion for the beautiful game never waivers though.

He tried to explain the fiasco to me - it was my longest haircut appointment to date and I had to skip the straight razor shave …

 

[LuvOrlando]

oooffff 4th of July Cape Cod and the whole South Shore of Massachusetts is going to be even more overwhelming than usual, thanks for the heads up, maybe we'll get tickets but I will not be driving around town much.

I am sure that people coming to see the games will love every minute. Truly they built up the space around the stadium a ton, biggest Trader Joes I've been in so they now have an amazing outdoor shopping area plus Cape Cod is lovely, lots of big homes to rent with beautiful shoreline from Hull clean on down to Cape Cod.

 

[Buzz Rules]

oooffff 4th of July Cape Cod and the whole South Shore of Massachusetts is going to be even more overwhelming than usual, thanks for the heads up, maybe we'll get tickets but I will not be driving around town much.

I am sure that people coming to see the games will love every minute. Truly they built up the space around the stadium a ton, biggest Trader Joes I've been in so they now have an amazing outdoor shopping area plus Cape Cod is lovely, lots of big homes to rent with beautiful shoreline from Hull clean on down to Cape Cod.

To be eligible to buy tickets, you have to first register on the FIFA interest website:

https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/register-interest