England at The FIFA World Cup 2026: Can the Three Lions Finally End 60 Years of Hurt?

It has been 60 years since Bobby Moore raised the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966 at Wembley, and every subsequent tournament has brought with it the promise of glory that inevitably turned to disappointment. England head to North America in 2026 as they have their best chance of ending that pain in a generation. A top 4 team in the world, the Three Lions will take all of their quality to the final round.

Under the stewardship of Thomas Tuchel, who has been appointed after Gareth Southgate stepped down following England's loss against Spain in the Euro 2024 final, England will enter the 2026 World Cup in better shape than they have in some time. The German tactician has instilled a solid backline that has allowed the team to make the most of its attacking prowess. For all of the millions of England fans who will travel with the Three Lions and watch the World Cup 2026 games, and there are hundreds of thousands who do so, the time to secure World Cup 2026 Tickets is now, before it becomes too late for the best seats to be had.

Can England Win the 2026 World Cup?

England can win at 2026 because there is no question but that they have one of the best squads in the tournament. Jude Bellingham is one of the best players in the world, Harry Kane can still score at an alarming rate despite being in his 30s in the German Bundesliga, and the players surrounding the duo are an outstanding mix of the cream from the English youth system that is the envy of most nations.

What has stopped England from doing what they need to do in the past is how the team and players have dealt with the pressure and how the team has been used at each tournament. Enter Tuchel, who has a proven record in leading his teams past the group stages at the top level in Germany, France and Spain. His arrival will have an immediate impact on England's style of play.

England is in a section that will not see Spain or Argentina again until the semi-finals at best. At 2026, for a team of this caliber, reaching the semi-finals is the bare minimum. That England can win the 2026 World Cup is the expectation that many would agree on.

What Visa Do England Fans Need to Travel to America?

England fans can enter the World Cup host countries fairly easily.

United States of America: The UK is part of the US Visa Waiver Program and doesn't require a visa for visitors staying up to 90 days in the country. All visitors must have an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) prior to arriving. The US State Department has created a dedicated page with entry requirements and information for the World Cup at state.gov/fifa-world-cup-26-visas. The ESTA must be applied for online, has a small cost and is processed quickly, but the advice is to always apply as soon as possible to your planned departure date. Please make sure your passport is biometric and also valid for the entirety of your stay.

Canada: As part of the UK's Commonwealth status, British nationals are allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months without a visa. Air travelers will have to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) online. For England fans, visiting any of the English speaking Canadian cities could also feel like stepping out of time. The Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver are also home to a large expat British community.

Mexico: British citizens do not require a visa to visit Mexico for up to 180 days. Visiting Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey does not require any additional paperwork and offers plenty of English speaking options and the option for an England football base during the first few weeks of the tournament.

England Fans Host Cities

All group stages games for England are believed to be hosted in the United States. It is not certain, however, where the quarter final, semi final and possibly even final stage of the World Cup will be played. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Gillette Stadium in Boston, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Lumen Field in Seattle and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami all host matches during the World Cup in 2026.

For England fans, the prospect of attending the World Cup final, which is scheduled for July 19, 2026 at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, is not a gamble of hope but a solid option now.

New York/New Jersey: MetLife stadium in New York/New Jersey provides a great option for England fans to stay in during the World Cup. It has one of the biggest British expat populations in the United States and is the host of both the first half and final stage of the World Cup. If your team makes it there it will be something unlike you have experienced before, it'll be loud, it'll be international and it will be all about football.

Boston: Gillette Stadium in Foxborough is one of the many stadiums that will be used to host matches during the World Cup, and also happens to be one of the more historic sites of all. It's also a nice size. It's compact and easy to get around. It's one of the nice World Cup bases you've got. Los Angeles is a large city with the infrastructure for a world-class venue like SoFi and good weather, warm but dry, in July, one of the nicer World Cup host cities for those coming from the UK, where English summers are a mixed bag.

Where to Stay

The cities are filling up fast on hotel rooms in and around the venues. So here's the city-by-city breakdown.

New York/Newark area: You want to stay in either East Rutherford or Secaucus, both of which are closest to MetLife Stadium. New York is an option, but will be expensive and will still need a train journey at a premium on match days via NJ Transit.

Boston area: Foxborough has limited hotel accommodation, so stay in downtown Boston or further out on the South Shore and take a train/car on match days.

Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood; El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Marina del Rey are the closest. All three are directly accessible on the Metro K Line, which serves the stadium on match days.

Dallas: AT&T Stadium is in Arlington, just outside both Dallas and Fort Worth. Arlington is fine for a day or two on match days, but if you've got more days, go down to downtown Dallas, where there's more to do.

Again, go with places that allow free cancellations, such as Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia. You'll not know which cities you'll be going to for the knockout rounds so accommodation will change at the last minute.

How to Get There

The main gateways from the UK to the US are London Heathrow (LHR) and London Gatwick (LGW), and all five of the cities, New York JFK, LAX in Los Angeles, Dallas Fort Worth International, Boston Logan, and Miami, are served on direct flights via British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta, and United. All three other international airports in the UK, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Birmingham, offer a connecting flight into one or more of the five gateways.

Flights from London to the US host cities have been creeping up the price as the tournament approaches. Those who still haven't booked international flights into the US should make this their No.1 priority. For flights within the USA, the three airlines that serve all 11 host cities are American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest. If you are planning multi-city flights, all three airlines offer easy-to-book multi-city flights. Give yourself a day between destinations.

Tickets

Tickets are available directly through FIFA, at FIFA.com. That is where you can see which World Cup matches have tickets remaining, and if not, the official ticket resale service, or the official World Cup hospitality services. Those are the only legitimate places to secure a ticket. Do not use Reddit, or Facebook pages, or other such social media platforms. You should instead look to use a verified reseller, like Ticombo or Seatpick, or a similar trusted and vetted marketplace that will guarantee every single purchase made. While secondary market prices may often be higher than face value, if buying on behalf of a large party, you'll need to plan accordingly as no seating will be guaranteed and every stadium will be configured differently.

England Fan Practical Tips

Currency: All stadiums and cities will be priced in US Dollars. Don't exchange at the airport; you'll get a better rate from an ATM or services like Wise (from British Pounds).

Phone plans: UK SIM cards may provide US roaming services, so make sure to check before you leave on holiday. Consider alternative options, such as purchasing an eSIM from Airalo, or buying a tourist phone plan from T-Mobile for only a short period of time.

Health insurance: There is no public healthcare for foreign citizens in the US. You will need health insurance covering medical emergencies, and an EHIC card does not work in America. Make sure you're fully covered before you head out the door.

British Consulates: Consular services for the fan zones are provided by the British Embassy, located in Washington DC, as well as British Consulates in the cities of New York, LA, Miami, Houston, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Save contact numbers before your trip!

Weather: Dallas and Miami will be hot and humid during July. Los Angeles will be warm and dry. This will feel nothing like the average English summer, so keep water handy if you'll be standing around at an outdoor fan zone.

Final Thoughts

Sixty years is a long time to wait. However, there is a sense of genuine belief that the current England squad possesses the talent, cohesion and will to truly challenge for the title this time around; and perhaps for the first time, even neutral observers agree it could really happen. The expanded tournament makes it easy, the draw looks good, the North American venues will help a disciplined and clinical team.

England supporters who have lived through every agonizing defeat, every near miss, and every missed opportunity over those six decades surely deserve to be in a stadium watching this one. If you have yet to purchase your England World Cup 2026 Tickets, it is probably time to take a look — they don't make tickets available for a very long time, and you will probably have to buy them through the secondary market to see the Three Lions.

Here it comes. This time, it really could be.

Disclaimer: Rules regarding visas, hotel availability, flight cost, and ticket availability could easily change over time. Be sure to check all rules on the official website of your government, FIFA's pages, and your preferred airline. Note that if you buy through the secondary market, prices may vary from face value.