The 2026 World Cup is the first ever held in three countries — and that means three separate immigration systems. Having permission to enter one host country does not grant you entry to the others. If your trip crosses borders, you need to sort out all three. Here is the complete guide.

United States: ESTA or visa

Most visitors from visa-waiver countries, including the UK, EU states, Japan and Australia, need an ESTA — the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — before flying to the USA. Apply at the official CBP website, esta.cbp.dhs.gov, at least 72 hours before travel; it costs $21 and is valid for two years. If you are not from a visa-waiver country, you need a full B1/B2 visitor visa from a US embassy, which can take weeks or months — apply now if you have not already. Never use a third-party ESTA site that charges inflated fees for the same form.

Canada: eTA for visa-exempt travellers

Canada has its own system: the eTA, or Electronic Travel Authorization. Visa-exempt travellers flying to Canada, including citizens of the UK, EU states and Australia, need one. It costs just CAD 7, is applied for online at canada.ca, and usually arrives within minutes by email. It is linked to your passport and valid for five years. Travellers who need a visa for Canada must apply for a full visitor visa instead — check your status on the official Canadian government site before booking anything.

Mexico: the easiest of the three

Mexico is the simplest host country for most fans. Citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, the EU and many other countries can enter Mexico visa-free for up to 180 days with just a valid passport. You will fill in a tourist card, the Forma Migratoria Múltiple, on arrival or on the plane. There is no ESTA-style pre-authorisation. That said, if you are crossing from Mexico into the USA by land, you need a valid US visa or ESTA, and land-border processing can be slow on match days — allow extra hours.

Crossing borders between host cities

Many fans will attend matches in more than one country — say, Mexico City, then Dallas, then Toronto. Each border crossing is a fresh immigration check, and you need the right authorisation for each country every time. Keep your passport, ESTA or eTA confirmation, proof of onward travel and hotel bookings easily accessible. Border officers may ask to see your match tickets and your return flight. Do not assume a multi-country itinerary is fine because you got in once — check every leg.

Common mistakes that strand fans

The most common mistake is assuming an ESTA covers Canada, or that a Canadian visa covers the USA. The second is leaving the application too late: visa appointments at US embassies can have long waits. The third is applying through unofficial websites that charge $50 or more for a $7 eTA or a $21 ESTA. And the fourth is an expired passport: most countries want your passport valid for the whole trip, and renewing it during tournament season can take weeks. Sort your documents now, not in June.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for the World Cup? It depends on your nationality and which countries you visit — check the USA, Canada and Mexico separately. How much is an ESTA? $21 on the official CBP site. How much is a Canadian eTA? CAD 7 on canada.ca. Do I need a visa for Mexico? Most nationalities enter visa-free for up to 180 days. Can I use one authorisation for all three countries? No — each country has its own system.