The only cross-border World Cup preview you can drive, fly or sail before 2026

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Before FIFA fever takes over North America in 2026, travelers can preview the excitement in real time. Vancouver and Seattle, the only geographically close World Cup 2026 host cities, offer fans a unique opportunity to visit two stadiums, experience two national fan cultures and enjoy a scenic three-hour international journey.

Interest in early World Cup travel is surging. Set to be the largest tournament in history, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will span 16 host cities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, drawing fans eager to be part of the action.

A new report from the U.S. Travel Association projects that six million visitors will travel to America for the event, as anticipation builds among fans and host cities alike.

Vancouver matchday: Stadium views and coastal vibes

BC Place hosts the Whitecaps on Saturday, Aug. 23, a preview of the energy Vancouver plans to bring to the World Cup. The city will host seven matches in 2026, including five group stage fixtures and two knockout rounds.

The FIFA Fan Festival will be staged at Hastings Park. The venue, overlooking Burrard Inlet and the North Shore mountains, features a new open-air amphitheater for the thousands of fans without tickets to experience the tournament.

For supporters in town this August, the pre- and post-match scene reflects the city's passion. Tap & Barrel Bridges on Granville Island draws crowds for Whitecaps games, as does Yaletown Brewery. Score on Davie and Shark Club Sports Bar & Grill deliver high-energy downtown settings, while the Kings Head Pub in Kitsilano holds strong appeal for casual fans.

Those staying near BC Place often choose the JW Marriott or The DOUGLAS for proximity and polish. Meanwhile, the Georgian Court Hotel offers a walkable, centrally located option.

Seattle matchday: Fan culture and stadium traditions

Four days later, fans can head south to Seattle, where Lumen Field hosts the Sounders on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Famous for its loud matchday atmosphere, Seattle's supporter groups lead a March to the Match and keep chants going from whistle to whistle.

"Seattle's soccer culture is electric, and Sounders matches are a prime example of that," says Kelly Saling, senior vice president and chief sales officer at Visit Seattle. "Our March to the Match is an energetic tradition that has fans parading through Pioneer Square on their way to Lumen Field for the game as one cohesive community."

That energy spills out into neighborhoods across the city. At Atlantic Crossing in the Roosevelt neighborhood, supporters gather to analyze lineups over pints, often alongside members of the Cascadia Gooners. The George & Dragon in Fremont routinely opens before sunrise for Premier League and Champions League matches, and St. Andrews Pub near West Green Lake draws Liverpool faithful.

Tom's Watch Bar, across from Climate Pledge Arena, and the sprawling Queen Anne Beer Hall offer broader sports coverage with elevated menus. For women's sports fans, Rough & Tumble in Ballard leads a new wave of female-focused venues, with Pitch the Baby scheduled to open in North Capitol Hill next summer.

New this summer, Populus Seattle debuted in Pioneer Square just blocks from Lumen Field. As North America's first carbon-positive hotel, it adds a sustainability angle to the fan experience. Embassy Suites and Silver Cloud, also within walking distance, provide reliable options for those who prefer convenience on matchday.

More than a match

Seattle's soccer identity extends beyond the Sounders. The Reign (NWSL), Ballard FC (USL), and Salmon Bay FC (USL W) draw devoted followings. Megan Rapinoe, a longtime Reign player, and her partner, Sue Bird, helped shape a sports culture built on inclusivity, community and advocacy. Even former Sounders midfielder Kelyn Rowe now contributes to that legacy in his own way with a wine label called Vino FC.

As Seattle prepares for FIFA 2026, it continues to champion women in sports. The Reign now share Lumen Field with the Sounders, while the Seattle Storm recently opened a 50,000-square-foot training facility designed exclusively for its WNBA roster. A professional women's hockey team will take the ice at Climate Pledge Arena in 2025, cementing Seattle's commitment to equity in athletics.

Private transfers for a seamless cross-border experience

For fans who seek a more exclusive alternative to driving or taking the train, several luxury transfer options connect Vancouver and Seattle in under an hour. Harbour Air's private floatplanes couple downtown Vancouver to Seattle's Lake Union, offering panoramic views of the Salish Sea and Olympic Mountains.

Helicopter charters, available through Helijet or Blackcomb Helicopters, offer even faster point-to-point transfers, including custom arrivals at private landing pads or regional airports near downtown cores. For those traveling in groups or seeking ground-based luxury, chauffeured black car services offer a smooth ride along the I-5 corridor, often accompanied by concierge-level assistance at customs.

FIFA style, Southern California edition

For fans extending their journey beyond Cascadia, Los Angeles is a natural next stop. As another 2026 host city with a deep soccer culture and global appeal, L.A. rounds out the Pacific sweep, connecting Vancouver, Seattle and Southern California through a shared rhythm of stadium lights, supporter chants and coastal backdrops.

Los Angeles combines elite matchday energy with iconic beaches, stadiums and style. SoFi Stadium, set to host World Cup matches in 2026, anchors a city where global fandom and local pride converge in every neighborhood.

"As the global gateway to the West Coast, Los Angeles is proud to serve as the launchpad for fans traveling the Pacific stretch of the FIFA World Cup 2026," says Adam Burke, president and CEO of Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

"With eight matches at the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium, a richly diverse fan base and iconic attractions, LA offers an electric start or unforgettable finish to any World Cup journey. Alongside Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco, we will deliver a West Coast experience that reflects the region's energy, diversity and hospitality to fans of the beautiful game."

Even without a match ticket, fans can dive into LA's soccer scene across dozens of high-energy venues. Soccer bars, such as Britannia Pub in Santa Monica, House of Football in Hollywood and LAFC partner spots throughout the city, create a global watch-party atmosphere year-round.

After floatplanes and luxury transfers between Vancouver and Seattle, a short flight south links fans to the glamour and global energy of LA. Luxury stays range from The Ritz-Carlton in Marina del Rey to Santa Monica's beachside boutiques and SoFi-adjacent towers near LAX. Whether fans start or finish their journey here, L.A. delivers World Cup buzz with a Hollywood finish.

A fan experience you can test now

But before the palm trees and stadium lights of Los Angeles, there's only one place where fans can preview the World Cup experience in real time, and it starts in the Pacific Northwest.

Together, Vancouver and Seattle offer something few other World Cup host cities can: the chance to experience two home teams in two stadiums on consecutive matchdays, connected by a single route. August delivers that opportunity; no need to wait until 2026.

Fans who make the trip this summer will witness the full breadth of what the Pacific Northwest offers on and off the pitch: mountain-backed stadiums, supporter-led traditions and cities ready to welcome the world.

Casandra Karpiak is a Vancouver-based travel journalist specializing in luxury travel, small ship cruising, sports tourism and wine destinations. Her work appears in Ultimate Experiences Magazine, the Associated Press Wire, Global Traveler Magazine, San Francisco Examiner, Washington Times Herald, 24/7 Wall St., MSN, Entrepreneur and more. Her recent assignments have taken her on safari in South Africa, wild swimming in Scotland and exploring Costa Rica's coastal towns with her children.