“Far away in America, we're gonna make it,” sang the Village People, with their iconic headdresses and police costumes. Back then, German stars like Matthäus and Klinsmann clapped along, though the tune never quite caught on. But if the creators of the 1994 World Cup anthem had a crystal ball, they’d know that journey through America was just a warm-up for the 2026 World Cup – a tournament promising fans and teams a true cross-continental adventure.
If you’re picturing the ultimate 2026 World Cup final, the fantasy matchup these days is often Germany vs. England, possibly set in New Jersey. With a coaching showdown between Nagelsmann and Tuchel, it’d be a nail-biter. For all 48 teams, however, the tournament path is a demanding one, requiring dozens of games and thousands of miles in the air.
With eight more group matches than the previous World Cup overall (64), and a new intermediate round before the last 16, this year’s tournament hits triple digits in games. Or, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino calls it: “104 Super Bowls in a month.”
Statements like these are music to the ears of seasoned American sports fans, but others dread the logistics: overbooked domestic flights and daunting road trips across the 16 host cities. The average distance between these 2026 world cup stadiums? A hefty 2,359 kilometers! To help you plan, download our 2026 World Cup Schedule (PDF), where you can group your World Cup ticket packages by region: Western, Central, and Eastern.
For example, fans with tickets for the USA’s opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles could continue the “soccer mania” up the West Coast to San Francisco or Seattle, perhaps even crossing into Canada. Vancouver and Seattle are among the closest host cities, just a two-and-a-half to three-hour drive apart. Co host Canada, led by Bayern star Alphonso Davies, starts its campaign at Toronto’s BMO Field, while Mexico’s Azteca Stadium will host the official opening match featuring “El Tri.”
The World Cup’s expanded format has some upsides: more teams and fans from all corners of the globe can experience the tournament, and for many smaller nations, a single loss won’t mean instant elimination. Out of 48 teams, only 16 will head home after the group stage, including the eight best third-place teams who will advance to the round of 32 (June 28–July 3).
Whether Germany’s national team – after early exits in Russia and Qatar – will survive past the group stage remains to be seen. Should they reach the knockouts, it’ll be easier for traveling fans to follow them from the quarterfinals onward, as all remaining matches will be held within the United States.
Whether you plan to travel to the U.S. or cheer on Germany from home, kick-off times might be a sticking point. During the 1994 World Cup, Germany played three out of five games at 9:00 p.m. or later, so expect some late nights. Balancing World Cup kick-off times across three U.S. time zones with the European TV market is sure to be a high-wire act for FIFA.
| Time zone | Host cities | Difference to GMT |
| Eastern Standard Time | 6 | -5 hours |
| Central Standard Time | 6 | -6 hours |
| Pacific Standard Time | 4 | -7 hours |