Brace yourself: Football fever – or, perhaps, soccer sickness, for our US readers – is about to descend on the world once again. The World Cup is now less than six months away. Buzz around the tournament has notched up after the final draw on 5 December and the schedule reveal on 6 December 2025.
Although, the full match schedule won’t be finalised until March when the last of the qualifiers are confirmed, the recent announcements have revived excitement and kicked off day-dreaming and trip planning for supporters. And with three joint Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, and 104 matches in this expanded tournament, those planners will have a challenge on their hands long before they head off to any
airport.
But, fret not Padded Seat readers, We have everything you need to know about the
tournament right here.
A soccer primer: The World Cup in 30 seconds
This edition features:
Bigger, better, best?
Organisers – from football’s top body to the local venue coordinators – have promised fans (and Host Country residents) a record-breaking, earth-shaking tournament that blows all prior editions out the water.
The qualifying team number has expanded and so has the prize pool, with a staggering $652 million reportedly up for grabs, or – more specifically – carefully divided between participating teams according to the stage of tournament they ultimately reach.
Another figure with plenty of zeroes in the mix is the tournament’s footprint: The three Host Countries span roughly 24 million km 2 , which – even if we exclude Alaska’s 1.7 million km 2, since no matches will be held that far north – far exceeds the geographic spread of prior tournaments, chiefly Russia’s 17 million km 2 in 2018.
Matches 1 and 2 are both in Mexico, but Match 3 kicks off in Toronto, Canada; M4 in Los Angeles on the US’s west coast, and on it goes. Silver lining: your air miles balance is going to epic!
A package solution
One FIFA partner has seen the gap to provide both match tickets to all games and travel packages in one. Official Airline Partner of FIFA Qatar Airways Holidays is offering fans the option to book bundled travel packages that include official match tickets, venue-to-venue flights, accommodation, and match-day transfers. International flights, direct from almost any departure point in the world, are available as optional add-ons.
This includes Follow My Team itineraries that will allow fans to watch their team of choice in whichever venue the draw directs them, or to secure seats to knockout and final stages, or just pick and choose your must-see fixtures – all bundled with accommodation and transport.
Fans can choose from Gold or Silver packages and tailor their FIFA World Cup 26™ travel experience to suit budget and style. Gold packages pair Category 1 match tickets with luxury 5-star accommodation, while Silver packages combine Category 2 match tickets with premium 4-star hotels. That, plus the official match tickets and fixed price – not to mention the logistics sorted, start to finish – will be a massive win for travelling fans.
Next ticket open phase
If you’re happy to roll the dice and sort your own trip planning, the next phase of direct FIFA ticketing has just kicked off. This phase is called “Random Selection Draw” and runs from now (11 December) to 13 January 2026. Fans must submit an application to FIFA for the opportunity to buy tickets for specific matches.
There’s also a “Last-Minute Sales Phase” which is held closer to the tournament, in which the remaining ticket inventory is sold on a first come first served basis.
Got tickets, will travel
If you’ve been successful in nabbing tickets, but still need to tackle the travel PLUS accommodation, one option is BEYOND Travel 26 who offer ready-made ticket-exclusive bundled packages including on-the-ground transfers, hotels, and regional flights between Host Cities – essentially one integrated booking for everything
outside of the stadium itself. With transparent fixed pricing and a team of travel experts, this is an option for simplifying the journey through the world’s most anticipated sporting event.
Rest easy
On the other hand, if finding the right accommodation in the right Host City for you and the crew is keeping you up at night, there’s always the FIFA26 Accommodation Bureau. This is the officially appointed accommodation service provider for the FIFA World Cup 26™. Across all 16 Host Cities, the Accommodation Bureau offers a comprehensive range of lodging options tailored to the needs of FIFA partners. Think Participating Member Associations, sponsors, partners etc, but is open and searchable for even lone travellers. The FIFA 2026 Accommodation Bureau has access to the best available hotel rooms throughout the Host Cities and tournament.
Hospitality options
Finally, there’s also Official Hospitality for those who want a special experience and have the budget to back them. Official Hospitality includes premium tickets, access to various hospitality options like private suites and lounges, and is delivered complete with food and beverage service, on-site entertainment, and more.