How To Plan A Successful 2026 World Cup Trip

In Conversation With Football Travel Expert Danny Navarro

By Where Is Football

April 24^th, 2025

Danny Navarro (@TravelFutbolFan) has emerged as one of the leading authorities in global football helping fans around the world plan and stay updated with everything you need to know related to the upcoming 2026 World Cup. From cost-saving advice to being prepared to purchase tickets to navigating an increasingly difficult geopolitical climate, we had the chance to meet with Danny and discuss everything fans should know as we count down the days to both the 2026 World Cup and this summer’s Club World Cup.

How To Plan A Successful 2026 World Cup Trip

Can you tell us about who you are and your relationship with football?

I'm Danny Navarro (TravelFutbolFan) - originally from Miami but now living in the Washington, D.C. area. Professionally, I've been a civil rights advocate for over a decade. I started TravelFutbolFan after I came back from the 2022 Qatar World Cup to assist fans with money and travel tips to prepare for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. I've since grown to over 60,000 followers across all my socials. I am also a boys youth soccer coach.

Can you tell us about your project and passion about informing fans about the upcoming World Cup? What inspired you to start creating with this focus?

With the 2026 World Cup being the largest World Cup, both in the number of teams competing and the number of countries and cities involved, I knew there was going to be a need for information on how to travel between the 3 countries. I also knew that fans were looking for ways to save as much money as possible on their travels. Sharing my experiences from my trip to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, where I saved over $15,000 using my travel points and miles, I've been sharing information on how to plan their travel, when tickets go on sale, and financial advice that is relevant for all soccer fans.

What do you want the legacy of this World Cup to be, and how do you want to help fans experience it?

I want fans to come out of this World Cup as financial winners. I don't want fans to overspend on resale tickets, book the wrong flights, and/or miss out on earning thousands of travel points & miles from the spend they will be doing during the summer of 2026. I don't want to see stories of fans who sold their homes to afford tickets, or went into high levels of credit card debt just to afford travel across multiple cities. There's no need for any of us to fall into long-term financial stress over soccer, especially not in this economy.

What are your concerns about the upcoming World Cup?

Before the election of Trump to the presidency, my biggest concern was the massive visa processing times that many fans from around the world were facing for the World Cup. For example, Colombians have to deal with visa processing times of over 700 days.

Since his election, however, my biggest concern is the safety of international travelers into the United States. Given the aggressive behavior by immigration officers at the ports of entry of the USA, there is no way I can assure international fans that their entry to the United States will be safe. If international fans still decide to come to the United States, they should prepare emergency contact plans and travel in groups to discourage any harassment from immigration officials.

What actions would you like to see FIFA or any organizations or national & international bodies to ensure a better experience for fans?

We need legal assurances that all fans visiting the United States for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and 2026 World Cup will not be harassed by agents from Customs and Border Protection or ICE. We cannot and should not trust the current administration that they will be able to reign in the grotesque behavior they've been demonstrating at the ports of entry. Governments around the world should also be ready to provide rapid assistance for any fans that face harassment by agents at American ports of entry.

What about general accessibility issues with the World Cup? What do you see at the moment with ticket pricing and the average fan in North America being able to attend a match?

Since I launched TravelFutbolFan in December 2022, I've warned fans that the 2026 World Cup would be the most expensive World Cup in FIFA's history. Although fans are (rightly) concerned about the ticket prices, fans should be concerned about the travel costs they will incur if they are looking to travel and attend multiple matches across the 16 host cities. If the tourists don't visit the United States in the numbers host cities are expecting, I'm afraid that travel costs will rise, as these businesses would be desperate to make up lost revenue from the lack of tourists. Ticket prices wouldn't fall either, as FIFA would be unwilling to lower prices and lose further revenue.

What are a couple of pro tips for fans to set themselves up best for being able to attend matches?

Fans should be saving money in high-yield savings accounts, and if they are able to, sign up for travel rewards credit cards to earn cash back or travel points. Doing these two things now will help fans be financially ready when they are making their game ticket and travel purchases later this year.

Anything else you want to mention?

Take the time to plan your expected travel for the 2026 World Cup today, to avoid financial mistakes later this year as you see prices increase after the World Cup Draw in December. I offer travel consultations via my website as well .