Key facts
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup involves 48 teams across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
- Teams face extensive travel, with some covering thousands of miles between base camps and match venues.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina is set to travel nearly 5,200 miles from its Utah base.
- Curacao is projected to travel approximately 5,300 miles round-trip from Florida.
- FIFA has attempted to geographically cluster teams to mitigate travel challenges.
- Teams are also contending with high altitudes and heat/humidity in various locations.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is presenting significant logistical challenges for the 48 participating teams due to the vast distances involved.
Teams are establishing base camps in various U.S. cities, but many face extensive travel to their group stage matches. The Czech Republic, for instance, traveled from its base in Dallas to Guadalajara, Mexico, and then to Atlanta, Georgia, with coach Miroslav Koubek acknowledging the difficulty but emphasizing the need to adapt.
Newcomer Curacao is projected to travel approximately 5,300 miles round-trip from Florida to games in Houston, Kansas City, and Philadelphia. Bosnia-Herzegovina is set to cover nearly 5,200 miles from its Utah base to matches in Toronto, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Canada's squad experienced a nearly five-hour flight covering over 2,000 miles between Toronto and Vancouver after its opening game.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella noted the reality of the situation, stating, "We have to adapt." The U.S. team will also undertake considerable travel, while host nation Mexico anticipates less than 600 miles of domestic travel. England, considered a title contender, faces a demanding schedule with its camp in Kansas City and games in Dallas, Boston, and New York.
Spain will fly nearly four hours from its Atlanta base to Guadalajara. However, finalists from the previous World Cup, Argentina and France, appear to have more manageable travel schedules, based in Kansas City and Boston respectively.
FIFA has acknowledged these challenges and attempted to mitigate them by geographically clustering teams. This contrasts with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was contained within a much smaller area. Similar travel issues were noted in the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Beyond travel, teams are also contending with environmental factors. South Korea's squad, while staying within Mexico for its group matches, must adapt to high altitudes in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Coach Hong Myung-bo noted that specific training helped, but fatigue was still evident. Brazil's Vinícius Júnior also voiced concerns about the heat, humidity, and fast-drying fields in U.S. cities, which he believes hinder the team's ability to play its desired style of football.