Scotland And The FIFA World Cup Games
As a born-and-bred Scot, our national spectator sport and passion is football (soccer for Americans). Now 60, I spent the first half of my life watching on a grainy TV, wide-eyed, with my parents and sister, images of Scotland from the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany onward. Sadly, I took it all for granted. Since the 1998 World Cup in France (the competition is held every four years), the second half of my life has seen Scotland spectacularly fail to qualify for a single tournament, leading to much national angst, frustration and the collective gnashing of Scottish teeth. Our Holy Grail as a nation is to be involved again at the pinnacle of world football!
June To July: Get Ready For The World Cup
FIFA World Cups are traditionally held at the end of the UEFA (European) football season, so they usually start in early June and run to mid-July. Due to the 2022 World Cup being held in Qatar, the Middle East's climate necessitated an unprecedented calendar shift, with the tournament instead held in November and December of 2022. With a 50% increase in participating nations, from 32 to 48, for the 2026 tournament, the qualification period has been shortened, so the actual draw was held in December 2025.
United States, Canada And Mexico As Hosts
The United States is to be the main host of the tournament, aided by northern neighbour (Canada) and southern neighbour (Mexico). The competition will run from June 11, 2026, until July 19, 2026, with only five non-football (rest) days. These rest days will take place between the quarterfinals, semifinals and final. The early weeks of the tournament will have multiple games per day, akin to every Sunday during the American football season.
Take In Some Games With HGV As Your Home Base
Smart use of your HGV membership could be a great way to base yourself and take in some games with a little forethought and planning! There are 16 venues and any number of HGV properties to choose from to take in a game or two and hopefully, this gives you the details at a glance in order to do so:
FIFA WORLD CUP GAMES 2026 City Schedule
Western Time Zone
Vancouver will host 7 games
Seattle will host 6 games
San Francisco Bay Area will host 6 games
Los Angeles will host 8 games
Central Time Zone
Guadalajara will host 4 games
Mexico City will host 5 games
Monterrey will host 4 games
Houston will host 7 games
Dallas will host 9 games
Kansas City will host 6 games
Eastern Time Zone
Atlanta will host 8 games
Miami will host 7 games
Toronto will host 6 games
Boston will host 7 games
Philadelphia will host 6 games
New York/New Jersey will host 8 games
Log in to the HGV app or website and witness the biggest sporting event on the planet. Oh, and over to you, Scotland National Team, to ensure that the famous Tartan Army and I have a genuine interest in the World Cup again with a team to cheer on. No Scotland? No party (as the saying goes)!
Key Takeaways
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Comes to North America: The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
More Matches, More Flexibility: With 48 teams and 16 host cities, fans have more opportunities to attend games than ever before.
HGV as a Convenient Home Base: An HGV membership can help you stay near host cities while minimizing travel between games.
One Trip, Multiple Games: Choosing the right location makes it possible to attend several matches from one home base.
Membership Adds Value: HGV membership offers flexibility and comfort during one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
FAQs
Q: When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place?
A: The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with matches held across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Q: How many cities will host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
A: There are 16 host cities across three countries, including major U.S. destinations such as Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey and Dallas.
Q: How can an HGV membership help with World Cup travel?
A: An HGV membership allows travelers to use select resorts near host cities as a home base, making it easier to attend games while enjoying comfortable accommodations.
Q: Is it possible to attend multiple World Cup matches in one trip?
A: Yes. Many early‑round matches are scheduled within the same region, allowing fans to attend multiple games without changing locations.
Q: Why is early planning important for the 2026 World Cup?
A: With the tournament occurring during peak summer travel season and featuring more teams and matches, planning ahead helps secure better availability and travel flexibility.
