For the first time in the last 36 years, La Albiceleste arrives at a World Cup not just as a contender, but as the defending champion. The image of Lionel Messi lifting the trophy in Qatar is etched in history, but the hunger for the “Fourth Star” begins now.
For an Indian fan, traveling to watch Argentina is more than a trip; it’s a pilgrimage. Whether you want to witness Messi’s “Last Dance” or the rise of the new generation under Scaloni, this journey requires precision planning. This guide takes you from your living room in India to the stands in North America-covering tickets, Visa, flights, and the specific logistics of following the Champions.
Step 1: Fix Your Basic Plan
Before you book a single flight, you need a strategy. The 2026 World Cup is massive, spread across three countries, and following a specific team requires careful targeting.
- Target the Right City: Venues of their group stage matches in order are Kansas City → Dallas → Dallas. This means you don’t have to to-and-fro between cities much, be done with the first match at Kansas and travel to Dallas (800-900 kms) for the rest of the week.
With Argentina being drawn in an easy group (Very high chances of topping their group), chances of their knockout matches being held in Canada or Mexico is near to nil even if they finish 3rd, along with their projected knockout matches to be conducted on the East Coast across Kansas City, Miami and Atlanta with the Final to be held at New York New Jersey, thus saving you from long exhausting travels to the West Coast. - Choose Your Round:
- Group Stage: The safest bet. You are guaranteed to see them play three times.
- Knockouts: High risk, high reward. As defending champions, they are expected to go deep, but knockout tickets are significantly more expensive and harder to secure.
Set a Rough Budget. Following a top-tier team is expensive due to high ticket demand. Accommodation costs in the US are brutal. Traveling with 2-3 friends/family members can slash your lodging expenses by 50% compared to going solo.
Step 2: Tickets
The “Golden Ticket” Rule: Without a ticket, visa and travel plans are harder to justify. However, securing a seat to watch the reigning World Champions is the toughest challenge of the tournament.
The “Messi Effect” & Dynamic Pricing :
FIFA has introduced dynamic pricing for the first time, meaning ticket costs fluctuate based on demand. Argentina matches are expected to be the highest-demand tickets of the entire tournament, potentially rivaling the Final itself (specially the potential Quarter-final against Portugal).
- Base Prices vs. Reality: While “official” prices start lower, expect Argentina group stage matches to surge immediately.
- Category 1 (Best view): Officially $410–$620, but demand could push this significantly higher.
- Category 2 (Mid-tier): $260–$465.
- Category 3 (Upper tier): $120–$215.
- Category 4 (Cheapest): Starts at $60–$140, but these will vanish in seconds for Argentina games.
- Resale Warning: On resale platforms, tickets for Argentina games could easily start above $500–$800 for even the cheapest seats.
How to book : Create a free FIFA account on FIFA.com/tickets. The third phase of ticket sales begins December 11, 2025, allowing fans to apply for specific matches after the group draw on December 5. For detailed step-by-step instructions on navigating FIFA’s ticketing portal, and securing team-specific tickets, check out our comprehensive article on How to Get FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets.
Critical Strategy : If you had already applied for “Argentina” via the Participating Member Association (PMA) portal, then you have got the first movers advantage. This allocates tickets specifically reserved for Argentine fans, separating you from the general public pool.
Potential “Messi vs Ronaldo” Last Dance : Also book the Quarter-Final 4 (Match 100 : Kansas City Stadium) tickets asap as Argentina is most probably topping their group thus very high chances of facing Portugal (also easy group) in Quarter-finals, making it the most in-demand fixture of the tournament (probably even more than The Final).
Step 3: Visa
Seeing Argentina’s group and all their potential knockout venues, the odds of them playing in Canada is 1 in 1000s. So you only have to worry about USA Visa saving your efforts of applying for Canada separately.
- Visa and Fee : B-1/B-2 (Tourist). Currently the processing fee is $185 or roughly ₹15,500–₹16,000. From 2026 onwards, a new non‑refundable Visa Integrity Fee of $250 will apply for Indian applicants, taking the total to around $435, i.e. roughly ₹36,500–₹37000for a 10‑year multiple‑entry B1/B2 visa.
- Wait Time: FIFA has introduced the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS), which gives official World Cup 2026 ticket holders access to prioritised US visa interview appointments for non‑immigrant visas like B1/B2. So expect the processing period to be around 5-7 months. So hurry up with the US Visa.
- You can get your US Visa application done hassle-free with Atlys by clicking here.
Key Documents Required during processing:
-
- Valid Passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond intended stay)
- Recent 2×2 inch Passport sized Photos
- Completed DS-160 Visa Application Form
- Proof of Funds (Bank Statements, ITR)
- Travel Itinerary & Bookings details
- Ties to India (Property / Family Documents)
Step 4: Travel
Major departure points include Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Flights from Delhi/Mumbai to New York (JFK), Atlanta(ATL), Dallas or Houston are typically cheaper (₹75k–₹85K return).
Current flight costs (one-way from India to US):
- Mumbai/Delhi to Atlanta: Starting ₹40,000. Most affordable and time saving as closest to Kansas City and Dallas. Etihad Airways is the best choice (most affordable) for this route.
- Mumbai/Delhi to New York : Starting ₹35,000–₹40,000. Time Consumingas you will have to commute to Kansas City then. Air India provides the most affordable flights on this route.
Most India-US flights involve one or two stops via Middle Eastern hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi) or European cities.
Booking tips : Book 4–6 months in advance for the best rates, and consider flying mid-week (Tuesday–Wednesday) for lower fares. Avoid booking non-refundable tickets until your visa is approved. Book a “Multi-City” flight (e.g., Delhi → Atlanta, New York → Delhi) to save time on backtracking.
Step 5: Internal Travel
Uber/Lyft provide affordable intra-city options for commuting between Airport, accommodation and stadium.
As for between the cities:
- Flights (Quickest) : Domestic flights are best for covering large distances quickly. Budget airlines like Southwest, Spirit, and Frontier offer affordable fares ($150–$180).
- Buses (Most Affordable) : Bus services like Greyhound, Megabus, and FlixBus offer routes between major cities like Kansas City and Dallas ranging between $50–$60. Travel time ranges between 15–18 hrs.
- Trains: One way fare between major cities like Kansas and Dallas is around $100–$120. Amtrak Rail Pass for 30 days can cost around $299 during sales period. Travel time ranges between 10-12 hrs.
Check this out for Bus and Train’s fare enquiry and booking.
Some host cities may offer free public transport on matchday for ticket holders, verify this closer to the tournament once specific city policies are announced.
Step 6: Accommodations
Choose your base location strategically, near the stadium, city center, or close to public transport hubs. During the World Cup, accommodation prices surge significantly, so book early.
Accommodation types:
- Hotels: Reliable with included amenities (breakfast, cleaning, concierge). Budget hotels start around ₹5,000–₹8,000/night; mid-range ₹10,000–₹15,000/night; luxury ₹20,000+/night.
- Airbnb/Vacation rentals: Better for groups and longer stays with kitchen facilities. Watch for hidden fees (cleaning, service charges).
- Hostels: Budget-friendly for solo travelers, offering shared dormitory options.
How to book : Use Booking.com, Hotels.com, Airbnb, or official World Cup hotel partners like Crewfare, which holds exclusive inventory for fans. Some host cities including Seattle, San Francisco, and Miami have partnered with booking platforms offering official World Cup discounts.
Step 7: International Currency, Insurance, and Connectivity
- Currency: You only need USD (United States Dollar). Carry a USD-loaded Forex card (like Niyo or BookMyForex) to get the best exchange rates and avoid the 3.5% markup often charged on standard Indian credit cards.
- Connectivity: Since you are staying exclusively in the US, buy a USA-specific eSIM (via Airalo, Visible or Nomad) which is cheaper than regional plans and costs around $10–$20.
- Travel and Health insurance : Highly recommended given expensive US healthcare costs. Comprehensive plans covering medical emergencies ($100,000–$500,000), trip cancellation, baggage loss, and evacuation start from ₹1,100–₹2,500for 15-day coverage. Purchase through providers like TATA AIG, HDFC ERGO, or ICICI Lombard.
Summary Checklist
- Fix your plan: Choose host city, target round, set budget
- Book tickets: Create FIFA account, apply during ticket phases
- Apply for visa: Complete DS-160, schedule interview 5-6 months early
- Book flights: 4–6 months in advance for best rates
- Plan internal travel: Research domestic flights, trains, buses
- Book accommodation: Early booking essential for competitive rates
- Prepare finances & connectivity: Forex cards, eSIM, travel insurance
How Much Would It Cost to Watch the World Cup from India?
| Expense Category | Budget-Friendly (INR / USD) | Luxury (INR / USD) |
| Match Ticket (Group Stage) | ₹16,000 – ₹24,000 / $200 – $300 | ₹65,000 – ₹90,000 / $800 – $1,100 |
| USA (2026 fees) | ₹36,500 / $435 | ₹36,500 / $435 |
| Return Flights | ₹75,000 – ₹85,000 / $900 – $1,000 | ₹1,15,000 – ₹1,50,000 / $1,350 – $1,800 |
| Accommodation (7 nights) | ₹35,000 – ₹56,000 / $440 – $650 | ₹1,05,000 – ₹1,40,000 / $1,200 – $1,650 |
| Internal Travel | ₹16,000 – ₹24,000 / $200 – $300 | ₹32,000 – ₹45,000 / $400 – $550 |
| Food & Miscellaneous (7 days) | ₹20,000 – ₹28,000 / $250 – $350 | ₹42,000 – ₹56,000 / $500 – $700 |
| Travel Insurance | ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 / $18 – $30 | ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 / $30 – $50 |
| Total Estimated Cost | ₹2,01,000 – ₹2,56,000 / $2,450 – $3,050 | ₹4,05,000 – ₹5,15,000 / $5,000 – $6,300 |
Note : Total Cost includes just a single match ticket price. In case of multiple matches, multiply the match tickets cost as per your booking.
FAQs
Q: Is travel insurance mandatory for US travel?
While not mandatory for visa approval, travel insurance is highly recommended due to extremely expensive healthcare costs in the US.
Q: When should I apply for my US Visa?
Apply at least 5-6 months before travel (around Dec’25 – Jan’26). Do not wait until the last minute as processing times may surge. Also the Visa fee for USA increases from 2026, so hurry up to save the cost.
