When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The opening match is Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19.

Which cities are hosting the 2026 World Cup?

Sixteen cities across three countries are hosting: in the United States — Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. In Mexico — Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. In Canada — Toronto and Vancouver.

Can airline employees fly standby to World Cup host cities?

Yes, but timing is everything. Revenue load factors in all 16 host cities will be significantly elevated on match days and the days immediately before. The best nonrev strategy is to arrive 1–2 days before your target match, have backup routing through alternate airports, and avoid attempting same-day standby travel on match days for high-profile matches.

Which airports serve the World Cup host cities?

Most host cities have multiple airport options. Key pairings: New York/NJ (EWR, JFK, LGA), Los Angeles (LAX, BUR, LGB, ONT, SNA), San Francisco Bay Area (SFO, OAK, SJC), Dallas (DFW, DAL), Houston (IAH, HOU), Miami (MIA, FLL), Toronto (YYZ, YTZ), and Mexico City (MEX, NLU).

How early should nonrev travelers book hotels for World Cup matches?

As early as possible. Hotels near World Cup venues in major markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami will sell out months in advance for match weekends. Final week (July 14–19) in the New York area will be particularly tight.

Do nonrev travelers earn miles on standby flights?

No. Nonrev travel on employee passes does not earn miles or loyalty points. This applies to both your home carrier and any ZED/interline travel on other airlines.

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World Cup 2026 Guide › New York / New Jersey

🏆 Eastern Region · Final Host · 8 Matches

New York /
New Jersey

The World Cup Final comes to MetLife Stadium on July 19. The most complex nonrev market in the country, eight commercial airports within 70 miles, and the most-watched sports event on earth. Plan early — and have a backup.

🏆 World Cup Final — Jul 19MetLife Stadium8 MatchesEWR · JFK · LGA · ISP · HPN · SWF · HVN

← Back to all 16 cities

The Vibe

What the New York metro area actually feels like on the ground.

City Vibe

New York doesn’t need an introduction, and it’ll be the first to tell you that. It is loud, expensive, relentlessly alive, and during World Cup Final week it will be unlike anything most visitors have experienced. Every major fan base from every remaining nation will converge on Midtown and downtown Manhattan. The city handles chaos better than almost any place on earth — the subway keeps running, the food stays outstanding, and the energy is genuinely electric. Expect to overpay for everything and be fine with it, because you’re in the middle of history. MetLife Stadium is across the Hudson in East Rutherford, New Jersey — plan your transport from whichever airport you land at. EWR is closest to the stadium by far.

Match Schedule

Eight matches at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ — including the Final.

Jun 13Brazil vs. Morocco6:00 PM ETGroup C
Jun 16France vs. Senegal3:00 PM ETGroup I
Jun 22Norway vs. Senegal8:00 PM ETGroup I
Jun 25Ecuador vs. Germany4:00 PM ETGroup E
Jun 27Panama vs. England5:00 PM ETGroup L
Jun 30Group I Winner vs. 3rd Place C/D/F/G/H5:00 PM ETRound of 32
Jul 5Round of 16 — TBD4:00 PM ETRound of 16
Jul 19🏆 FIFA World Cup Final3:00 PM ETTHE FINAL

⚠️ Group stage matchups confirmed. Knockout opponents TBD. Final halftime: Coldplay.

Airport Info

Seven commercial airports within 70 miles of MetLife Stadium. Here’s how each one works as a nonrev.

Primary Airports

These are your first-call options — the three major NYC area airports plus ISP as a strong overflow. Check all four before writing off New York as unreachable.

EWRNewark Liberty International7 miles to MetLife StadiumUnited’s major hub and the best option for MetLife access — just 7 miles from the stadium. NJ Transit AirTrain connects to Penn Station Newark, then train or rideshare to East Rutherford in 25–35 min. If you’re on United or have strong UA ZED, this is your target airport.Airlines serving EWR: Aer Lingus (EI), Air Canada (AC), Air France (AF), Air Premia (YP), Alaska Airlines (AS), Allegiant Air (G4), American Airlines (AA), Arajet (DM), Austrian Airlines (OS), BermudAir (2T), Breeze Airways (MX), Delta Air Lines (DL), EgyptAir (MS), El Al (LY), Emirates (EK), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), French Bee (BF), Frontier Airlines (F9), Iberia (IB), JetBlue (B6), La Compagnie (B0), LOT Polish Airlines (LO), Lufthansa (LH), Porter Airlines (PD), SAS (SK), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Spirit Airlines (NK), Sun Country Airlines (SY), Swiss (LX), TAP Air Portugal (TP), Turkish Airlines (TK), United Airlines (UA), Volaris (Y4), Volaris El Salvador (N3), and others.

JFKJohn F. Kennedy International35 miles to MetLife StadiumThe international gateway — widest carrier selection of any airport in the US. 10 miles from Manhattan but ~35 miles from MetLife. AirTrain to Jamaica, then LIRR to Penn Station, then NJ Transit to stadium. Budget 75–90 min. Worth it if JFK is your only routing option.Airlines serving JFK: Aer Lingus (EI), Aeromexico (AM), Air Canada (AC), Air China (CA), Air France (AF), Air India (AI), Air New Zealand (NZ), Air Serbia (JU), Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), ANA (NH), Arkia (IZ), Asiana Airlines (OZ), Austrian Airlines (OS), Avianca (AV), Azores Airlines (S4), British Airways (BA), Brussels Airlines (SN), Cape Air (9K), Caribbean Airlines (BW), Cathay Pacific (CX), China Airlines (CI), China Eastern (MU), China Southern (CZ), Condor (DE), Copa Airlines (CM), Delta Air Lines (DL), EgyptAir (MS), El Al (LY), Emirates (EK), Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Etihad Airways (EY), EVA Air (BR), Finnair (AY), Frontier Airlines (F9), Gol (G3), Gulf Air (GF), Hawaiian Airlines (HA), Icelandair (FI), Iberia (IB), ITA Airways (AZ), JAL (JL), JetBlue (B6), Kenya Airways (KQ), KLM (KL), Korean Air (KE), Kuwait Airways (KU), LATAM Airlines (LA), Lufthansa (LH), Neos (NO), Norse Atlantic Airways (N0), Norse Atlantic UK (Z0), Qantas (QF), Qatar Airways (QR), Royal Air Maroc (AT), Royal Jordanian (RJ), SAS (SK), Saudia (SV), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Sun Country Airlines (SY), Swiss (LX), TAP Air Portugal (TP), Turkish Airlines (TK), Air Europa (UX), Uzbekistan Airways (HY), VivaAerobus (VB), Virgin Atlantic (VS), WestJet (WS), Xiamen Airlines (MF).

LGANew York LaGuardia20 miles to MetLife StadiumPrimarily domestic. 5 miles from Manhattan but 20 miles from MetLife. No direct rail to stadium — rideshare only. Good option on Delta, American, United, JetBlue, Southwest, or Frontier. The new Terminal B is a significant improvement.Airlines serving LGA: Air Canada (AC), American Airlines (AA), BermudAir (2T), Delta Air Lines (DL), Frontier Airlines (F9), JetBlue (B6), Porter Airlines (PD), Southwest Airlines (WN), Spirit Airlines (NK), United Airlines (UA).

ISPLong Island MacArthur Airport44 miles to MetLife Stadium44 miles from Manhattan on Long Island. JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Breeze, Cape Air, and Avelo serve ISP. Long Island Rail Road from Ronkonkoma to Penn Station runs every 30–60 min (about 1 hr 20 min). Worth checking if the three main airports are all showing impossible loads.Airlines serving ISP: Avelo Airlines (XP), Breeze Airways (MX), Cape Air (9K), Frontier Airlines (F9), JetBlue (B6), Southwest Airlines (WN).

Alternate Airports — Regional Overflow Options

When the big three are showing impossible loads, these smaller regional airports within 70 miles are worth a check. Carrier selection is limited — only useful if your routing includes one of the airlines listed.

HPNWestchester County Airport26 miles from ManhattanSmall but well-served. American, Delta, JetBlue, Breeze, BermudAir, and Cape Air all operate here. Rideshare to MetLife ~40 min. Easier to clear on a busy match day than the big three. Worth checking if you’re connecting through a Northeast hub on AA or DL.Airlines serving HPN: American Airlines (AA), BermudAir (2T), Breeze Airways (MX), Cape Air (9K), Delta Air Lines (DL), JetBlue (B6).

SWFNew York Stewart International54 miles from Manhattan54 miles north of Manhattan in Newburgh, NY. Allegiant and Breeze are the only carriers — so only useful if you have a routing option on one of those. Bus to Port Authority takes about 90 min. Least congested option when the metro is saturated.Airlines serving SWF: Allegiant (G4), Breeze (MX).

HVNTweed New Haven Airport66 miles from Manhattan66 miles northeast in New Haven, CT. Breeze and Avelo are the only carriers. Amtrak from New Haven to Penn Station runs under 2 hrs on the Northeast Regional. Last resort — only viable if Breeze or Avelo serves your origin city.Airlines serving HVN: Breeze (MX), Avelo (XP).

Ground Transfer Options — Fly Here, Train or Bus In

A legitimate contingency when everything in the metro area is sold out. Fly into one of these well-connected airports and take ground transport into the city. Factor in 75–120 minutes of travel time on top of your flight.

PHLPhiladelphia International~95 miles · Amtrak to NYC ~75 minAmerican’s major hub with broad domestic and international connectivity. Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela both run direct to NYC Penn Station — ~75 min on Acela. Seriously viable if all NYC area airports are impossible. PHL is also a World Cup host city, so it will see its own surge during match weeks.Airlines serving PHL: Aer Lingus (EI), Alaska Airlines (AS), American Airlines (AA), British Airways (BA), Delta Air Lines (DL), Frontier Airlines (F9), JetBlue (B6), Lufthansa (LH), Southwest Airlines (WN), Spirit Airlines (NK), United Airlines (UA), plus additional international carriers.

ABELehigh Valley International (Allentown)~90 miles · Trans-Bridge bus to NYC ~90 minAmerican and United serve ABE. Trans-Bridge Lines runs direct coach service to Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC — about 90 min. Low congestion. Worth checking if you’re on AA or UA and all closer airports are showing impossible.Airlines serving ABE: American (AA), United (UA).

ACYAtlantic City International~90 miles · Bus to NYC ~2 hrsSpirit and Allegiant serve ACY. Direct bus service to NYC Port Authority or NJ Transit to Philadelphia then Amtrak north. Good last-resort option if you can route through a Spirit origin city. Low competition for seats at the airport itself.Airlines serving ACY: Allegiant Air (G4), Spirit Airlines (NK).

BDLBradley International (Hartford)~115 miles · Bus/Train to NYC ~2 hrsGood carrier variety — American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Breeze, Sun Country, and Aer Lingus all serve BDL. CT Limo or Peter Pan bus to NYC runs 2–2.5 hrs. Worth checking if you’re routing through a New England hub or have Aer Lingus ZED from a transatlantic connection.Airlines serving BDL: Aer Lingus (EI), American Airlines (AA), Breeze Airways (MX), Delta Air Lines (DL), Frontier Airlines (F9), JetBlue (B6), Southwest Airlines (WN), Sun Country Airlines (SY), United Airlines (UA).

Nonrev strategy: EWR is the first choice — closest to MetLife, United hub, strong ZED coverage. JFK if you need international routing. ISP and HPN are genuine overflow options with real carrier options, not just theoretical. For Final week, identify the latest day you can realistically clear any of these airports and position then. PHL with an Acela ticket is a legitimate contingency plan.

⚠️ Final Week Warning: July 16–19 is effectively a standby no-go into EWR, JFK, and LGA. Position by July 15 at the latest. Hotel rates spike sharply after July 15 as well.

5 Things To Do in New York

Between matches — because even at a World Cup, the city is the event.

1Find the FIFA Fan ZonesFIFA will set up official fan zones — likely near Central Park or major waterfront parks. During knockout rounds and Final week these become massive open-air viewing parties with fans from every remaining nation. Some of the best people-watching you’ll ever experience, and completely free.

2Jackson Heights, QueensThe most culinarily diverse neighborhood on earth. Bangladeshi, Nepali, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Tibetan, Mexican — within four blocks of each other. Take the 7 train from Midtown (25 min). If Colombia, Ecuador, or any Latin American team is in the tournament, this neighborhood will be electric on match day.

3The High LineAn elevated park built on an old freight rail line on Manhattan’s West Side. Walk it on a summer evening — the views, the architecture, and the neighborhoods it passes through make it one of the genuinely great urban walks anywhere. Free, no ticket required.

4Staten Island FerryFree. Runs every 30 minutes. Passes directly past the Statue of Liberty. Returns you to lower Manhattan. One of the best free experiences in any city on earth and almost no visitor ever does it. Go at sunset.

5Hoboken WaterfrontRight across the Hudson from Manhattan, a 5-minute PATH train ride from 33rd Street. Great Manhattan skyline views, walkable waterfront, excellent bar scene that will be packed with World Cup energy. Much more manageable than Midtown and almost always overlooked by visitors.

Flight Load Analysis

What to expect flying standby to the New York area during the World Cup.

⚠️ Final Week — July 14–19

This will be the hardest nonrev window in recent memory for the New York area. International demand will be historic. Every flight into EWR and JFK from major global hubs will run full. Domestic loads into LGA will be impacted as fans connect through the US system. Position by July 15. Do not attempt same-day standby on July 18 or 19 under any circumstances.

Final Week EWR/JFKExtremely HeavyTreat Jul 16–19 as standby no-go. Jul 13–15 is your positioning window.

Group Stage Match DaysVery HeavyBrazil, France, Germany, England games push regional loads near capacity the day before and of the match.

Between Match DaysModerateNY is never light. Between-match weekdays offer the best window but won’t be easy.

Positioning TargetArrive Jul 13–15Multiple attempts before loads become impossible. Hotel rates spike sharply after Jul 15.

Travel Insurance

A World Cup trip to New York — especially for the Final — is worth protecting.

You’ve planned around a specific match date. Hotels are booked. The flights lined up. And then something goes sideways — a flight cancellation, a medical issue, a missed connection that cascades. World Cup travel to one of the most congested markets on earth during one of the highest-demand weeks in aviation history is exactly the scenario travel insurance was designed for.

A few things worth covering for a trip like this: trip cancellation if you can’t make it, trip interruption if you get stuck mid-journey, medical coverage for emergencies abroad (especially important if you’re routing through Canada or connecting internationally), and baggage delay coverage for a match-day trip where your checked bag ending up on a different flight is a real problem.

Compare Travel Insurance Options →

What to look for in your policy
✓ Trip cancellation — covers prepaid, non-refundable costs
✓ Trip interruption — covers unexpected cutbacks mid-trip
✓ Emergency medical — especially if traveling internationally
✓ Baggage delay — critical for match-day travel
✓ Cancel for any reason (CFAR) — maximum flexibility