The five most-underrated World Cup 2026 host cities you should travel to next

The FIFA World Cup 2026 promises an expansive tournament, stretching across an impressive 16 cities throughout Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

While big-hitters such as Miami, Toronto, Mexico City, Boston, and Los Angeles are among the key hosts, the event gives attendees the chance to discover some of the smaller, yet equally compelling, metropolises.

These destinations are well worth exploring, regardless of whether you secure a match ticket. Thomas Tuchel’s England players are scheduled for their Group L games in Dallas, Boston, and the New York-New Jersey region, making these cities prime additions to any travel itinerary.

1. Kansas City, USA

When Dorothy (Judy Garland) said, ‘Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore’, she likely didn’t mean to disparage Kansas with a click of her ruby slippers. That line from The Wizard of Oz is still a core cultural artefact many of us associate with the state and city though, that and – for American football fans and Swifties – the Kansas City Chiefs (Taylor Swift’s fiancé Travis Kelce is their tight end). Oddly, there’s Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. The two straddle the state line, with World Cup matches happening at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Chiefs. Beyond sport though (baseball is also big news here), this midwestern city is rife with barbecue joints (order Kansas specialty, burnt ends; crispy, fatty, charred cubes of smoked beef brisket in barbecue sauce) and jazz bars (try Lonnie’s Reno Bar, and for a bit of background, the American Jazz Museum). And don’t miss the ginormous shuttlecock sculptures at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (free entry).

2. Guadalajara, Mexico

It’s the capital of Jalisco, the Mexico state famous for its tequila, but once you’d had your fill of slammers, historic Guadalajara is packed with culture and roving mariachi bands (guarantee a sighting by grabbing a table at one of the city’s many mariachi restaurants, like Casa Bariachi). On Sundays, from 8am until 2pm, certain roads are closed to traffic so people can explore the city by bike. Spend a few hours wandering around taking in street art and murals in the city centre, snacking as you go (think tacos and birria – slow-cooked stewed meat, often goat, eaten with corn tortillas), or take a trip to Bosque Los Colomos for trees, a picnic and a peek at its tranquil Japanese garden.

3. Philadelphia, USA

There really is more to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, than the ‘Rocky Steps’ (immortalised in the 1976 film Rocky) up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but those steps do have to be done, all 72 of them. And you will also have to scoff a Philly cheesesteak (super-thin slices of ribeye steak, topped with gooey provolone cheese and caramelised onions, all stuffed into a soft roll). But then you can explore America’s first World Heritage City, famed for being where the five Founding Fathers met to draft and sign America’s Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (namely at Independence Hall). See the Liberty Bell, a beloved symbol of abolitionism, suffrage and civil rights, go shopping for incredible produce at the iconic Reading Terminal Market, and take a meander or bike ride along the Delaware River Trail for views of the city’s skyline.

4. Monterrey, Mexico

Monterrey may just have the most spectacular view of all the host cities at its stadium. From stands at the Estadio BBVA, you can see the colossal bulk of the Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain), part of Mexico’s Sierra Madre mountain region, which is an ideal spot for keen, experienced hikers to check out too. Otherwise, the state capital of Nuevo León is known for being a bit of a business hub, with a huge Gran Plaza where you can experience the city’s buzz, while spotting landmarks like the grand 19th-century Government Palace and courthouse. Enjoy the rainbow-coloured buildings and cafe hop in the historic Barrio Antiguo quarter, order yourself some goat cooked over coal and visit urban green space Fundidora Park, which is set in the grounds of a former steel works – they’ve left the blast furnace in situ.

5. Houston, USA

If you are even remotely interested in NASA and the Space Race, Houston, Texas, will obviously be on your radar, but it’s arguably not a classic tourist destination for non-space-bods. Space Center Houston is unmissable regardless, with a new immersive show called ‘The Moonwalkers’ narrated by actor Tom Hanks on, alongside tram tours (that take you past astronaut training areas) and a permanent collection of space suits. Elsewhere, try to catch a show at the Miller Outdoor Theatre (there are summer symphony nights and a Shakespeare Festival on this summer), visit endless art galleries (from the Rothko Chapel to The Orange Show and the Menil Collection), explore the bars and vintage shops of the Montrose neighbourhood and then sprawl out on the grass at Buffalo Bayou Park.