Scotland's World Cup 2026 Dream: Plan Your Trip Now!

As Scotland celebrates its 2026 World Cup qualification, fans face the challenge of planning travel amid uncertainty about group stage locations. The tournament, expanded to 48 nations and co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, begins on June 11, but group draws won't occur until December 5. Travel expert Simon Calder recommends booking initial transatlantic flights now to avoid escalating costs, suggesting domestic travel can be arranged later.

Calder advises a relaxed approach to accommodation, noting that hotel prices for major events can fluctuate significantly. He suggests that significant accommodation options are available across host cities and surrounding areas, and rates are likely to stabilize or decrease closer to the event. This strategy allows fans to be flexible while still ensuring they can attend the matches.

The 2026 World Cup will feature an unprecedented 104 matches across 12 groups. The group stages run from June 11 to June 27, followed by knockout rounds commencing on June 28 and culminating in the final on July 19. Qualified teams hail from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and North, Central America, and the Caribbean.