Travelling to the World Cup with children changes every decision: the best host city for families is not necessarily the one with the biggest stadium or the loudest nightlife, but the one where getting to the ground is easy, the weather is manageable, and there is something to do on non-match days. Across the 16 host cities, a few stand out for families because they combine compact stadium access, parks and attractions, and milder summer weather.

Start with the stadium journey: cities where the ground sits near public transport or in a walkable district beat those requiring long drives or expensive parking. Vancouver, Seattle and Toronto score well here, with cooler June and July weather and waterfronts and parks that keep children happy between matches. Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with its roof and downtown location on the MARTA rail network, is another strong family option despite the southern heat, because the indoor venue removes the worst of it.

Next, look at non-match days: zoos, aquariums, science museums and big parks matter enormously when a tournament trip lasts a week or more. Cities with a compact downtown, like Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle, let families walk between attractions without constant taxi rides, which keeps both costs and tempers down.

Heat is the biggest family risk at this tournament: Dallas, Houston, Miami and Monterrey regularly exceed 35 degrees in June and July, and young children dehydrate faster than adults. If you choose a southern city, pick evening matches, roofed stadiums and hotels with pools, and plan indoor attractions for the middle of the day. In every city, pack sun hats, refillable water bottles and a light layer for air-conditioned stadiums, which can feel cold after a hot walk outside.

Book accommodation with a kitchen or kitchenette if possible: feeding a family in restaurants three times a day quickly doubles a trip budget, while a supermarket breakfast and a simple evening meal leave more money for match tickets and attractions.

For a first family World Cup trip, Seattle and Vancouver offer the gentlest weather and easy walking; Toronto adds a compact downtown and a famous waterfront; Atlanta offers a roofed stadium and a world-class aquarium steps from the action. If your children dream of beaches, Los Angeles and Miami deliver, but plan around traffic and heat and choose accommodation near rail lines rather than near the stadium alone.

Whichever city you choose, involve the children in the plan: let them pick one non-football attraction each, and schedule a rest day between matches. A World Cup trip children remember fondly is rarely the one with the most games; it is the one where nobody was exhausted, sunburnt or stuck in traffic.

Families with teenagers and families with toddlers need different host cities, and recognising the difference saves a trip: teenagers want atmosphere, fan zones, music and the freedom to explore a downtown safely, which makes cities like New York, Los Angeles and Toronto ideal, with big crowds and endless things to do. Small children need the opposite, which is shade, short journeys, naps and playgrounds, which points towards Vancouver, Seattle and Atlanta, where stadiums are close to parks and family attractions and the climate is gentler.

Practical planning differs too: with teenagers, book a central hotel and let them navigate the metro with a day pass, giving them a defined meeting point and a charged phone. With small children, book accommodation with a kitchen and a washing machine, plan one major activity per day rather than three, and always know where the nearest pharmacy and shaded rest area are. In both cases, involve the children in choosing one attraction each: a trip where everyone owns part of the plan is a trip where everyone enjoys it, and the football becomes the shared highlight rather than the only reason for travelling.