France at the 2026 World Cup: The World-Cup Winners Who Need One

In a 48-team tournament, France arrive at the 2026 World Cup with a dangerous combination, having won it once, and having lost it at the most painful possible moment. In the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar, France were involved in perhaps the greatest final in the history of the tournament. In a 3-3 classic match, France eventually lost to Argentina after a penalty shoot-out that left Kylian Mbappé, who scored a hat-trick, with his World Cup still out of reach. That remains France's primary motivation heading into this tournament.

France are ranked third in the FIFA World Rankings, and their bracket places them on a path that keeps them away from Spain and Argentina until the semi-finals. France are considered a top contender for the title, with a squad that has won the tournament twice (in 1998 and in 2018). Now they have a chance at that all-important third title for this generation. For supporters of Les Bleus who are planning to attend matches, it's time to act on your World Cup 2026 Tickets. French supporters attend in force, and ticket demand for their games has never been so strong.

Can France Win in 2026?

The arguments to France are obvious. They have a team with the best player in the world today in the shape of Kylian Mbappé, and their attacking structure boasts several world class players throughout the team. Antoine Griezmann, one of the best attacking midfielders in the world, continues to be a vital cog in the French machine. France have some of the best defenders in the world, having spent at least four years of their career in the latter stages of the Champions League.

In 2022 France were simply unlucky. Injuries played a huge part, as Didier Deschamps lost crucial midfielders at crucial points in the tournament. The current team is deeper, and some areas even better, than it was four years ago. France's draw keeps them away from Argentina until a potential final, and away from Spain until the semi-finals at the earliest. The question now is not whether France are good enough to win the tournament. They are clearly capable. The question is whether they can stay injury-free and overcome the demands of a 48-team tournament, and whether they can perform as consistently as they did in 2018.

What Visa Do French Supporters Need?

In general, the French will find it much easier to visit North America than other nationalities.

US: France is part of the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), meaning French nationals don't have to apply for a visa to visit the country, if they intend to stay for up to 90 days. If they intend to go to the US, they will first have to apply for an electronic travel authorization (the eTA is called the ESTA for America). It's easy to do online, costs a small fee and usually is approved straight away, although it's worth leaving plenty of time to allow for any issues that might arise. There is a page on the Department of State website at state.gov/fifa-world-cup-26-visas for World Cup travellers, giving advice on how to go about getting all the necessary documentation for the tournament in question.

Canada: French nationals don't have to obtain a visa to travel to Canada either. Visitors are allowed to stay for up to six months. There is an electronic travel authorization system for people who enter by air, the ETA, which can be applied for quickly and easily online. There is a large francophone population in Canada, particularly in the province of Quebec, so if the French supporters are heading there, they may find the country has a slightly more familiar atmosphere than the other host countries.

Mexico: French nationals don't need a visa to go to Mexico either, although they can stay for longer than their American and Canadian counterparts: up to 180 days. All of the Mexican host cities, the capital city of Mexico City, along with Guadalajara and Monterrey, are accessible to the French and would make for a convenient base in which to follow the action.

Where Should French Fans Go for the World Cup?

France's group stage matches are expected to take place across US host venues, with potential knockout round appearances at stadiums including the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford (New Jersey), the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara (San Francisco area) and the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The Final will take place on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium. So, ultimately, if you're following the French, the New York area will probably become your home for the duration of the tournament.

New York/New Jersey: In East Rutherford, the MetLife Stadium will host the Final along with other matches, meaning that New York, which will also hold group-stage fixtures for other teams, will be the ideal headquarters for French supporters for the latter part of the tournament. It's also likely to be a great time to visit as the area has a large population of French emigres, as well as the presence of many sports and international news organizations, not to mention football's biggest fans.

Los Angeles: The SoFi Stadium will host some of the biggest early-round group stage games in the World Cup 26, meaning that it's one of the best places to get a feel for football's most popular sport. The host city also has an international population, so the French may well find that many of the locals share their interests in France and French culture. The hot, clear skies in July also add extra allure to the trip. The San Francisco/Bay Area area will feature Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara as the venue, while the Bay Area region will provide great lodging, dining, and transport links. For fans who are traveling by air, from the West Coast of France or from French territories in the Pacific, this is the closest part of the schedule.

Lodging: Where to Stay

If you want reasonably priced housing close to a World Cup stadium, the time to book is now.

New York/New Jersey: East Rutherford and Secaucus are the closest cities to MetLife Stadium. Manhattan will offer a great experience at a premium cost (especially at the knockouts), but it will be easy to get to the stadium on match days (MetLife offers NJ Transit service for those staying in New York).

Los Angeles: Inglewood, home of SoFi Stadium, has little lodging in its vicinity. Neighboring El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Marina del Rey, however, are close enough to the stadium and are served by Metro (K Line).

San Francisco/Bay Area: There will be great lodging options in Santa Clara, San Jose, and Palo Alto near Levi's Stadium. Further afield, San Francisco will have good public transit (Caltrain) for fans willing to make the commute.

Dallas: AT&T Stadium is located in Arlington, between Dallas and Fort Worth. Arlington will offer the best hotel selection during match weeks, whereas downtown Dallas provides an outstanding multi-day experience.

Your needs as the tournament progresses will likely change, so booking sites that allow for free cancellations (Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia) will remain sensible options.

Airline Travel: Getting to the USA and Inside It

Paris Charles de Gaulle airport is the most well-used, with Air France, Delta, American, and United among the carriers who offer flights to New York JFK, Los Angeles LAX, Miami, Dallas DFW, and San Francisco SFO. Additionally, many fans in France will come from as far north as Lyon, and others will originate from Marseille and Nice, giving access to all five host cities with connecting flights.

The price for airline tickets is only going to go up. Fans who have not made an international booking yet should do so now. Within the US during the tournament, Southwest, Delta, and American fly between all eleven host cities for fans who want to do a multi-venue trip (plan a travel day between each stop if possible).

Tickets: The Facts

The only way to get tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is through FIFA.com. This website will be the first stop for fans looking for official remaining tickets, secondary listings, and hospitality offers. If official channels do not have the seats you are looking for, we recommend that you don't use a Reddit thread, Facebook group, or any other social media platform to find them. Use a trusted and verified reseller website like Ticombo, Seatpick, or any other reputable and reliable secondary market that will guarantee each ticket you purchase. Keep in mind that ticket prices on the secondary market might be higher than face value. If you are buying tickets for more than one person, make sure to check if the tickets you are buying are in the same block together because it is not always possible for fans to have the seat next to each other as each stadium has a different layout.

A Few Things to Know Before Going to the US

Payment: USD is the currency for payment in all venues in the US. Don't exchange your euros at the airport because you will get a lot worse rates than you would if you got a withdrawal from an ATM, or an electronic withdrawal via your Wise app.

Phones: A regular French sim card won't work in the US without additional payment. An eSIM card from a service like Airalo, or an extended US T-mobile card for the duration of your stay are your best bets.

Medical insurance: There's no such thing as public health insurance in the United States. Make sure that you travel with a health and accident insurance card with medical costs included.

Consulates: If you need help from your French Consulate (embassy), you can find it in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Chicago. Keep the emergency phone numbers saved on your mobile before you fly.

The weather: Los Angeles, Dallas and Miami will be hot and dry or hot and humid according to their location and geography. Bring sun cream and drink lots of water because even if you think you're prepared for it, a North American summer is not like a French summer.

Final Thought

France do still have an unfinished business story line in this World Cup. The last time France lost to Argentina they were losing on penalties after they had actually taken the lead, and the opposing team had somehow equalised at the death. The pain they felt on that day has been felt every day since. Their best player, Mbappé is still in the middle of his career and wants this win badly. France don't just want to be crowned World Cup champions. They want to answer a question that has been hanging over them since that night in Lusail.

Fans that would like to go and watch France play this time, make sure to book their France World Cup 2026 Tickets ASAP. There aren't many places left to go. You'll have to move fast because by the time June comes, the tickets are very likely to sell out!

France will come to this World Cup to win it. You'll have to believe me, if you could have been there you would have appreciated what France had to accomplish in the World Cup.

Note: Visa rules, hotel availability, flight costs and ticket policies may change after you have booked them. Please check the visa requirements for each country on their official website, the ticket and ticket policy on FIFA official pages, as well as the terms and policies on each of your airlines.