Last updated: 1 June 2026 · ESTA fee, FMM rate and consular details verified against official sources

The WC 2026 runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Most Belgian passport holders can enter all three countries with an online travel authorisation, no traditional visa required.

Whether you are booking flights to the host cities or following the action from home, this guide covers entry rules, host-city logistics and the fastest way to keep up with every match.

This guide walks through entry requirements country by country, host-city logistics and what to do if you are staying in Belgium for the tournament.

1. Quick reference: entry requirements at a glance

All three host countries accept Belgian biometric passports. None of them require a traditional consular visa for short tournament-related trips. Each country has its own online authorisation system and its own cost, so plan according to which matches you want to attend.

2. United States: ESTA application step by step

Belgium is part of the United States Visa Waiver Program, which means most Belgian passport holders can enter the US on an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) rather than a consular visa. ESTA covers tourist and business trips up to 90 days.

Cost and validity: the official ESTA fee is 40.27 USD as of 1 January 2026 (raised from 21 USD in late 2025), payable by card during the application. Approval is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows multiple entries within that window.

How to apply: use the official ESTA portal. Most decisions come back within minutes, but the US authorities recommend applying at least 72 hours before departure to leave room for manual review. You will need your passport, your contact details, your travel itinerary and your employer information.

Common reasons for refusal: a previously refused US visa, dual nationality with a designated country (such as IR Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria), a criminal record or recent travel to certain countries. If your ESTA is refused, you will need to apply for a B-1 or B-2 visa through the US Embassy in Brussels, which takes considerably longer.

Useful link: Official ESTA application site.

3. Canada: eTA application step by step

Belgian passport holders need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to fly into Canada. The eTA is only required for air travel; if you cross into Canada by car, bus or train from the US, no eTA is needed (but you do need your passport).

Cost and validity: the eTA fee is 7 CAD, paid online by card. Approval is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

How to apply: use the official Government of Canada eTA portal. Most decisions are automated and come through within minutes, but allow at least a few days in case manual review is triggered. You will need your passport, your contact details and answers to a short set of background questions.

Combining with ESTA: if you plan to attend matches in both countries, apply for both authorisations in advance. Crossing the border from the US into Canada and back will create a new entry record each time, so check your remaining stay length on each leg.

Useful link: Official Canadian eTA application.

4. Mexico: FMM tourist permit

Mexico does not require Belgian passport holders to apply for a visa in advance for short tourist trips. Instead, you receive a Forma Migratoria Multiple (FMM), commonly called a tourist permit, on arrival.

Cost and validity: the FMM is free for stays of up to 7 days. For longer visits, the 2026 fee set by Mexico's immigration authority (INM) is 983 MXN (around 50 EUR), normally included in the price of your international flight ticket. The permit is valid for up to 180 days and is officially a single-entry document, although multi-entry use is tolerated at some land crossings.

How you get it: at most international airports, you receive the FMM during immigration on arrival. You can also pre-fill the form online to speed up the queue. Keep the stamped half of the form safe, you will need it when you leave the country.

What you need: a Belgian passport valid for the duration of your stay (most airlines and many travel guides recommend at least 6 months beyond your return date), a return or onward ticket, and proof of accommodation such as a hotel or stadium-area booking.

Useful link: Mexico's official immigration site.

5. Travel between host cities

The tournament covers an enormous geographic spread, roughly 5,000 kilometres from Vancouver in the north-west to Mexico City in the south. Multi-city itineraries are popular but the flying time adds up quickly.

Border re-entries: ESTA approval covers multiple trips to the US during its 2-year validity, but a side trip to Canada, Mexico or nearby islands does not reset the 90-day VWP clock. The official position of the US State Department and Customs and Border Protection is that travellers returning from a short side trip are normally readmitted for the remainder of the original 90-day period, not a fresh 90 days. Time spent in Canada and Mexico counts towards the same 90-day total.

Building in buffer days: travel days between host cities often eat more time than the matches themselves. Add at least a half-day either side of a cross-country flight, and a full day for any cross-border itinerary.

6. Tickets and stadium logistics

Match tickets are sold through the official tournament site. Resale platforms exist but carry real risks: counterfeit barcodes, blocked entry on match day and inflated pricing are all common around major tournaments. For the latest official ticketing windows and ballots, see the WC 2026 tickets guide.

Stadium-specific logistics

Travel times to host stadiums vary dramatically by city. A few practical notes for the most popular venues:

• SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles: a sprawling site served by LA Metro rail, bus, park-and-ride and event-day shuttles. Ride-share is often the fastest door-to-door option for international visitors not familiar with the local network. See the SoFi Stadium guide.
• New York New Jersey Stadium, New York: NJ Transit rail to East Rutherford is the most reliable way in on match day. Allow 75 minutes from Manhattan. See the New York New Jersey Stadium guide.
• Estadio Azteca, Mexico City: Mexico City metro Línea 2 to Tasqueña connects to the Tren Ligero (light rail) which runs towards the stadium. Allow 45 to 60 minutes from the central tourist districts on match days.
• BC Place, Vancouver: downtown location, walkable from the SkyTrain. One of the easiest stadium approaches of any host city.

7. Practical travel tips for Belgian fans

Currency: US dollars in the US, Canadian dollars in Canada, Mexican pesos in Mexico. Contactless cards and digital wallets are accepted almost everywhere. ATMs are widely available but international withdrawal fees add up quickly, so check your bank's foreign transaction charges before you leave.

Power plugs: the US, Canada and Mexico all use Type A and Type B sockets at 110 to 120 volts. Belgian Type E plugs and 230-volt appliances need a travel adapter, and some devices require a voltage converter as well.

Time zones: the host cities span three main North American time zones, from Pacific (Vancouver, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area) through Central (Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara) to Eastern (New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Philadelphia). CEST is 9 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time, 7 to 8 hours ahead of Central depending on daylight saving rules in Mexico, and 6 hours ahead of Eastern.

Language: English in most host cities; French in Quebec, Spanish in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. A few words of Spanish go a long way at smaller Mexican vendors.

Healthcare and insurance: the Belgian European Health Insurance Card is not valid in any of the three host countries. Private travel insurance with medical cover is strongly recommended. US healthcare costs in particular can climb into the tens of thousands of euros for an emergency, so do not skip this step.

Embassy and consular support: Belgium maintains an embassy in Washington DC plus Consulates General in Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York. In Canada, the embassy is in Ottawa with a Consulate General in Montreal. In Mexico, the embassy is in Mexico City. For the latest contact details and updated travel advice, see Belgian Foreign Affairs travel advice.

8. Can't travel? Follow WC 2026 from home

The reality is that most Belgian fans will follow the tournament from home, and that is still a great way to live the six weeks of football. With kick-off times stretching from late afternoon to the small hours, the Napoleon Sports app is built to keep up.

• Push notifications: alerts for kick-off, goals and final whistle, especially useful for the overnight ties detailed in our Round of 32 guide.
• Live streaming: selected matches stream directly inside the app for funded accounts.
• In-play betting and live cash-out: prices update every few seconds for matches at any time of day or night.
• Multi BetBuilder: stack winners, goals, cards and player markets from different matches into a single slip for a combined price.

The 18:00 to 22:00 CEST window is the most BE-friendly viewing slot during the tournament, covering the bulk of group-stage matches kicking off in Eastern US time. Mexico City and West Coast ties fall outside this window and are best followed via the app rather than a full stream.

9. Travel guide FAQ

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