With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to bring millions of fans across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, choosing the right host city is about more than the match itself. For traveling supporters, the best trips often come down to how easy, enjoyable and practical the full matchday experience feels once they arrive.
To find out which destinations offer fans the strongest all-around experience, Action Network analyzed all 16 host cities across five key categories:
- Accessibility: travel time to the stadium and how walkable the surrounding area is
- Cost: average local meal prices and beer prices for fans
- Atmosphere: nearby bar density and local soccer culture indicators
- Safety & Weather: city safety scores and expected matchday temperatures
- Hotel Access: hotel availability near each stadium
The result is the 2026 World Cup Fan Experience Index, which ranks all 16 host cities on a 0–100 scale, with higher-scoring cities offering fans the strongest overall mix of convenience, affordability, atmosphere, safety, and hotel access.
Before diving into the key findings and full study, World Cup-bound fans can also explore the latest World Cup betting promos, while those new to the sport can get up to speed with this simple guide on how to bet on soccer.
