The 2026 FIFA World Cup spans three co-host nations, 16 cities, and 104 matches from June 11 to July 19. For Indian fans, a single trip can cover Mexican group stage football, American knockout matches, and Canadian opening fixtures across one extended itinerary.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 spans the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The USA hosts 78 matches including the Final at MetLife on July 19. Mexico and Canada host 13 matches each. Indians need a US B-2 visa, Canadian TRV, and a multi-currency forex plan.
But combining three countries means navigating three visa timelines, three currencies, and accommodation markets already climbing. This guide brings the full picture together so the planning does not become the hardest part of the trip.
Visa is the First Step to Plan Around
Visa strategy shapes the entire trip. The three countries have different requirements, but they connect in a way that works in favour of Indian travellers planning a combined itinerary.
United States
Indian passport holders need a B-2 tourist visa. The process involves completing the DS-160 form online, paying the USD 185 application fee, and attending an in-person interview at a US consulate in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, or Kolkata. Apply at least 3 to 4 months before travel. Book match tickets before the interview; consular officers treat ticket confirmation as concrete evidence of genuine travel intent rather than vague tourism purpose. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your return date.
Mexico
Indian passport holders ordinarily need a Mexican tourist visa. However, any Indian traveller who holds a valid US B-2 visa is automatically exempt from the Mexican visa requirement and can enter Mexico for up to 180 days. Getting the US visa first means Mexico is covered without any separate application.
All visitors to Mexico regardless of visa status must carry a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM) at entry. This mandatory tourist card is issued at the border or airport by Mexico’s National Immigration Institute for stays of up to 180 days. Keep it with your passport throughout the trip.
Canada
Canada requires a separate Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), applied for through the IRCC portal. This involves completing the IMM 5257 form, paying a CAD 100 visa fee plus a CAD 85 biometrics fee, and submitting fingerprints at a VFS Global centre in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, or Chandigarh. Processing times run 4 to 14 weeks. Apply at least 3 to 4 months before travel. The US B-2 visa does not cover Canada; both must be applied for separately.
Which Cities to Target by Country
Not every host city carries the same weight for Indian fans. Here is the practical breakdown.
United States
New York and New Jersey host the Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, both semifinals, and multiple knockout matches. For anyone targeting the latter stages of the tournament, this is the essential base. Dallas hosts a semifinal at AT&T Stadium. Atlanta hosts a semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and is the venue for Spain’s Group H group stage matches. Los Angeles hosts 8 matches at SoFi Stadium. Miami, Houston, Seattle, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Boston, and the San Francisco Bay Area round out the US circuit.
Mexico
Mexico City hosts 5 matches at Estadio Azteca including the tournament opener on June 11 and knockout fixtures through July 5. Guadalajara hosts 4 matches at Estadio Akron. Monterrey hosts 4 matches at Estadio BBVA including a Round of 32 game. For fans who want to open their trip with the atmosphere of an opening-day host nation match, Mexico City is the natural starting point.
Canada
Toronto hosts 6 matches at BMO Field including Canada’s opening game on June 12 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Direct flights from Delhi on Air India and Air Canada make it the easier Canadian city to reach. The Brampton and Scarborough areas carry one of the largest Indian diaspora communities in the world, which is a practical advantage for vegetarian travellers on a long trip. Vancouver hosts 7 matches at BC Place and is the only Canadian city with knockout fixtures, including a Round of 32 and a Round of 16.
Budget Breakdown Across All Three Countries
A full 18 to 21-day trip covering Mexico, the USA, and Canada with 4 to 6 matches total will realistically cost between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 14 lakh per person, depending on travel style, city choices, and how far ahead bookings are made.
1. Flights take the largest share
A multi-country routing from India typically looks like Delhi to Mexico City, then internal travel to the USA, with a Canada leg either before or after. Round-trip fares from Delhi to Mexico City start at Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.1 lakh. Onward one-way flights within North America range from USD 100 to USD 400 depending on the corridor. Book all segments now; fares across all three countries have already started climbing.
2. Accommodation costs vary sharply by country
Mexico is the most affordable: USD 60 to USD 120 per night for a 3-star hotel in the host cities. Canada sits in the middle: CAD 200 to CAD 350 per night in Toronto, higher in Vancouver. The USA is the most expensive: USD 150 to USD 250 per night in most host cities, with New York running significantly above that during knockout weeks. In every country, staying one neighbourhood away from the stadium area cuts costs by 30 to 50 percent while keeping transit access intact.
3. Match tickets add up across all three legs
Group stage seats start at USD 35 to USD 60 depending on the match and category. Knockout round tickets, particularly from the Round of 16 onward in the USA, run USD 200 to USD 400 per person for a realistic seat. Host nation games in all three countries carry a premium. Budget separately for each match and book official FIFA platform tickets the moment availability opens.
4. Daily spends and hidden costs differ by country
The USA charges 7 to 10 percent sales tax on top of listed prices and expects tipping of 18 to 20 percent at restaurants. Canada charges 12 to 13 percent combined HST and expects 15 to 20 percent tips. Mexico’s cash economy means cards are not always accepted outside hotels and chains. Factor all of this into per-day budgets before you travel.
Forex Planning is Where Multi-Country Trips Bleed Money
Most Indian travellers handle each country separately: convert rupees to dollars at one airport, find an exchange counter for pesos at the next border, and rely on a standard debit card for Canadian dollars. Every one of these moves costs money.
A regular Indian credit or debit card charges 2.5 to 3.5 percent in foreign transaction fees on every international spend, on top of the card network’s conversion spread. On a combined trip budget of USD 6,000 across all three countries, that markup alone eats Rs 15,000 to Rs 22,000, spread invisibly across dozens of transactions. Airport forex counters routinely offer rates 3 to 5 percent below the live interbank rate.
One Card for All Three Countries
The BookMyForex Global USD Forex Card lets you load USD at live interbank rates before departure, locking the exchange rate at the time of loading. Since USD is widely accepted across all three host nations, at hotels, larger restaurants, and tourist-facing businesses near stadiums in Mexico, and as the default currency across the USA and Canada, the card handles your spends seamlessly across the entire trip.
Every USD transaction is debited directly from the stored balance with zero additional conversion markup, and the card works identically to a local debit card at POS terminals, ATMs, and online merchants across all three host countries. Travellers benefit from free international ATM withdrawals with zero issuance, reload, unload, or annual charges, and the in-app reload feature lets you top up instantly from anywhere.
How Much to Load
For an 18 to 21-day three-country trip with mid-range accommodation and 4 to 6 matches, load approximately the MXN equivalent of USD 1,500 to USD 2,000 for Mexico, USD 2,500 to USD 4,000 for the US leg, and CAD 2,500 to CAD 4,000 for Canada. Start conservatively and reload as needed. The recommended split across all three currencies is 80 to 85 percent on the forex card and 15 to 20 percent in local cash. Mexico requires a slightly higher cash proportion given how frequently vendors near stadiums, markets, and local transport operate on cash only.
The tournament starts June 11. Accommodation prices and flight fares are already climbing across all three host countries. The cost of planning this trip goes up every week the decision is delayed.
About the Author
Kshitij Pandey is the Content Manager at BookMyForex with over 7 years of experience in content marketing, blogging, and social media strategy. He has worked extensively on building engaging campaigns and informative resources that help users understand forex, international money transfers, and travel-related financial services.
