The Biggest Football Trip of Your Life Starts This June

The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on Thursday, 11 June, and runs until the Final on Sunday, 19 July, and England are in it. Thomas Tuchel's side have been placed in Group L, kicking off against Croatia on 17 June in Arlington, Texas, before facing Ghana in Boston on 23 June and rounding off the group stage against Panama in New Jersey on 27 June. For any England fan who has ever dreamed of following their team at a World Cup, this is the one. But it is also shaping up to be one of the most expensive football trips ever attempted.

England's Group Stage, Where You Need to Be

England's three group games take fans across three different US cities in just ten days. The opener against Croatia is at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas on 17 June. Next up is Boston's Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on 23 June against Ghana. The group stage wraps up on 27 June against Panama at the iconic New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford. If England progress through the knockout rounds, supporters could find themselves heading further afield, Atlanta, Mexico City, and Miami are all potential venues depending on how far the Three Lions go.

Why This World Cup Is Unlike Any Other

Unlike previous tournaments held in a single country, the 2026 World Cup is spread across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For fans following England through the group stage alone, that means moving between Texas, Massachusetts, and New York, thousands of miles across North America in just ten days. The scale of travel involved is unlike anything England supporters have faced at a World Cup before, and the costs reflect that.

What It's Actually Going to Cost

International return flights from the UK are estimated at around £1,500 to £2,000 for the group stage alone, with prices rising sharply if England advance and last-minute bookings become necessary. Mid-range hotels in host cities like Dallas and Boston are already running at significant premiums due to tournament demand. A realistic budget for following England through the group stage, covering flights, accommodation, food, and transport between cities, sits somewhere between £5,000 and £8,000 per person, before a single match ticket is added. A comfortable full-tournament experience, should England go all the way, could easily exceed £20,000 for many fans.

The Visa Bond Situation, Good News for Fans

The US government had initially introduced a controversial visa bond scheme requiring some World Cup visitors to pay up to $15,000 as a condition of entry. Following significant pressure from football bodies and widespread concern about the impact on attendance, the Trump administration has since suspended those payments for many supporters, which will come as a considerable relief to fans still planning the trip.

Can't Make It? There Are Still Ways to Make the Most of It

For those who cannot make it to North America but still want to mark the occasion, interest in World Cup watch party breaks and short European city trips during the tournament is already climbing. Whether you are planning to be in the stands in Texas or watching from a rooftop bar in Lisbon, the World Cup is already shaping the way people are thinking about their summer.

We Can Help You Plan Around It

At Blue Lotus Vacations UK, we can help you plan around the tournament, whether that's a trip to the USA, a summer holiday timed around England's matches, or simply finding the best deals still available this summer.

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