Welcome to my World Cup 2026 travel guide — a new one every match day, with three aviation facts about each country on the pitch. It’s Day 2, the USA and Canada both open at home, and here’s the wild part: three of today’s four countries don’t have a national airline.
Canada kicks off against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto, then the USA opens against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium tonight. Yesterday I told you Czechia has no flag carrier — today, somehow, three of the four countries playing are in the same boat. Let’s go.
🇺🇸 United States
Here’s one most people never think about: the United States has never had a national airline. No flag carrier, ever. Instead, the US went with competition — and ended up with three of the largest airlines on the planet in American, Delta, and United, plus Southwest carrying more domestic passengers than almost anyone. Pan Am played the part of unofficial flag carrier for decades, but it was always a private company — and it’s been gone since 1991.
With 11 US host cities, this is the World Cup where domestic connectivity is the whole game. American, Delta, United, and Southwest connect every host city, and hubs like Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Houston put you one nonstop from nearly all of them. If you’re following a team city-to-city, the US legs will be the easiest flying of your entire trip.
Tonight’s venue is an avgeek bonus: SoFi Stadium sits just a few miles east of LAX, right under the arrival corridor. Look up between plays and you’ll see a steady parade of widebodies on final approach. The stadium was even designed partly below ground level because of FAA height limits on the flight path.
🇵🇾 Paraguay
No flag carrier here either. Paraguay’s biggest homegrown airline is Paranair, based in Asunción (ASU) — and its entire fleet is 50-seat Bombardier CRJ200 regional jets flying around South America. Nothing bigger. A country in the World Cup whose largest airline doesn’t operate a single aircraft bigger than the smallest regional jet landing at LAX tonight.
There are no nonstop flights from the US, Canada, or Mexico to Paraguay. The standard routing from the US is Copa Airlines through Panama City, or LATAM and Avianca through Lima, Santiago, São Paulo, or Bogotá. Asunción’s longest nonstop anywhere is Air Europa’s flight to Madrid. Paraguayan fans made one of the longest trips of any team to be here tonight.
Asunción’s Silvio Pettirossi International is named after Paraguay’s pioneer aviator — a stunt pilot who wowed crowds across the Americas in the 1910s. Small airport, big aviation heritage.
🇨🇦 Canada
The one classic flag carrier on today’s slate: Air Canada, a founding member of Star Alliance, flying out of Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Montréal (YUL), and Vancouver (YVR). WestJet is the strong number two from its Calgary base, and Porter has been expanding fast with jets in the east.
Toronto Pearson is one of the best-connected airports in the Americas — every major US carrier flies there, and Air Canada and WestJet blanket US cities in return. From Mexico, Air Canada and Aeroméxico link Mexico City with Toronto, so following Group B between host countries is straightforward.
For today’s match, skip Pearson if you can: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) sits on an island right downtown — you walk through a pedestrian tunnel or take a 90-second ferry into the city — and it’s just minutes from BMO Field on the waterfront. Porter’s turboprops serve it from several US and Canadian cities. One of the most underrated airport experiences in North America.
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
And our third no-flag-carrier country of the day — Bosnia has actually lost two of them. B&H Airlines folded in 2015, and startup FlyBosnia flew for barely a year before stopping in 2020, with its license revoked in 2022. Today there’s no Bosnian national airline at all.
No nonstops from the US, Canada, or Mexico — fans heading to Sarajevo (SJJ) connect through Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, Vienna on Austrian, or other European hubs. But don’t let the missing flag carrier fool you: Sarajevo is one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe, passing 2.2 million passengers in 2025 — up over 20% in a year — powered by Wizz Air, Ryanair, and Turkish.
Sarajevo itself — one of Europe’s most affordable and atmospheric capitals, where Ottoman bazaars and Austro-Hungarian boulevards meet in a valley ringed by mountains. The approach into SJJ between those hills is a treat in its own right.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the United States have a national airline?
No — the US has never had a government flag carrier. Its largest airlines are American, Delta, United, and Southwest, all private companies. Pan Am served as the unofficial flag carrier for decades but ceased operations in 1991.
Which airport serves SoFi Stadium for the World Cup?
Los Angeles International (LAX) is just a few miles west of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — the stadium sits under the LAX arrival path. Hollywood Burbank (BUR) and Long Beach (LGB) are smaller alternatives nearby.
What is the national airline of Paraguay?
Paraguay has no flag carrier. Its largest homegrown airline is Paranair, which operates a small fleet of 50-seat CRJ200 regional jets on routes within South America from Asunción.
How do you fly from the US to Paraguay?
There are no nonstop flights from North America to Paraguay. Most travelers connect on Copa Airlines via Panama City, or on LATAM or Avianca via Lima, Santiago, São Paulo, or Bogotá to reach Asunción (ASU).
What is the national airline of Canada?
Air Canada, a founding member of Star Alliance, with hubs in Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver. WestJet is the country’s second-largest airline, based in Calgary.
Which Toronto airport is closest to BMO Field?
Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), on an island right downtown, is just minutes from BMO Field and reached by a pedestrian tunnel or short ferry. Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is the main international gateway, about 25–40 minutes away depending on traffic.
Does Bosnia and Herzegovina have a national airline?
Not anymore. B&H Airlines ceased operations in 2015, and successor FlyBosnia stopped flying in 2020. Sarajevo is now served mainly by foreign carriers like Wizz Air, Ryanair, Turkish Airlines, and Austrian.
How do you get to Sarajevo from North America?
There are no nonstop flights. The most common routings are Turkish Airlines via Istanbul or Austrian Airlines via Vienna, with other European hub connections available through Lufthansa and partner carriers.
Tomorrow’s matchday
The World Cup 2026 travel guide continues tomorrow with Day 3 — Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland, and more take the pitch. Same format, more countries, more aviation facts. See you then.
Map routes with the Airline Network Explorer, check standby seat availability at FlightLoads, find rest options and lounge access with the Airport Sleep Finder, and go deeper with my Non-Rev Playbooks — all built by people who fly for a living.