So, you did it. You braved the digital waiting rooms, refreshed your browser until your index finger was sore, and emerged from the resale portal with a pair of confirmed match tickets.
Congratulations. You’re officially heading to the biggest soccer spectacle to hit North America since…well, ever. Now comes the hard part: actually getting there.
North America is, as it turns out, rather inconveniently large at times, so we aren’t talking about a quick hop from London to Manchester here. We’re talking about the tournament spread across three countries, four time zones, and 16 host cities. If you’re planning to follow your team from the neon of Miami to the high-altitude of Mexico City, you need a plan. And you need it before the airlines catch on to just how desperate we’re all about to become.
Enter Skyscanner, the only thing standing between you and a summer spent sleeping in a bus terminal (and my personal repeat savior for last-minute and advance flights at the best price every time).
You got your tickets…now what?
The moment those tickets hit your inbox, the clock starts ticking. Thousands of other fans are doing the exact same math you are, and “dynamic pricing” is just the airlines’ fancy way of saying we saw you coming.
If you’re staring at a map of the U.S., Canada and Mexico and wondering how you’re supposed to be in Vancouver on Tuesday and Dallas by Thursday, take a deep breath. Skyscanner’s Soccer Flight Finder (you read that right) is a cheat code for us fans.
You pick your match or your team, and it spits out the most efficient ways to get to the host city. It’s like having a savvy travel agent (who actually likes you).
Navigating North American travel logistics is a special kind of hell, especially lately. You have to account for TSA, car hire shortages, and the fact that “nearby” in some states means a four-hour drive.
If you’re planning a multi-city odyssey, the Soccer Travel Hub is your bible. The golden rule of tournament travel? Book the big stuff first. Secure the flight, then immediately lock down your hotel and car hire. If you wait until you’re “in the mood” to book a rental car in Kansas City in July, you’ll end up hitchhiking in a jersey…and nobody wants to see that.
Use Skyscanner’s Soccer Travel Hub to plan ahead
Here is a pro-tip from someone who has covered enough matches to know that stadium beer prices are the least of your financial worries:
- Be airport agnostic: Don’t just search for the major hubs. Skyscanner lets you compare routes to nearby airports that might be a fraction of the price. A one-hour Uber is better than a $400 price hike.
- Use the “multi-city” tool: Use the multi-city search tool to stitch your itinerary together. Trying to book three separate one-way tickets is a great way to ensure your credit card company calls you to see if you’ve been kidnapped.
- Bundle, bundle, bundle: Once your flight is booked, use Skyscanner to comparison-shop hotels and car hires immediately. Expect demand to be middle-of-a-heatwave-at-a-waterpark-level high.
The verdict
This summer is going to be a glorious, sweaty mess of beautiful goals and debatable officiating. Don’t let getting there be the reason you’re crying in the nosebleeds.
Whether you’re a die-hard futbol supporter following your nation across the continent or a casual fan who just wants to see a match in a different time zone, start your search on Skyscanner. Compare the routes in minutes, find the best flights between host cities, and for the love of the game, book it before the rest of the world wakes up.
Your team might lose in the group stage, but your travel itinerary doesn’t have to.
This article was written by Kendall Cornish, New York Post Commerce Editor & Reporter. Kendall, who moonlights as a private chef in the Hamptons for New York elites, lends her expertise to testing and recommending cooking products – for beginners and aspiring sous chefs alike. Simmering and seasoning her way through both jobs, Kendall dishes on everything from the best cookware for your kitchen to chef-approved gourmet meal kits to the full suite of Ninja appliances. Prior to joining the Post’s shopping team in 2023, Kendall previously held positions at Apartment Therapy and at Dotdash Meredith’s Travel + Leisure and Departures magazines.
