Travel agencies expand long-haul offerings ahead of the World Cup
Demand for travel to the U.S., Canada and Mexico is heating up as the 2026 North American World Cup approaches. Fans increasingly want to pair match days with city breaks and nature escapes, and travel companies are answering with more North America-focused options—think independent trips, semi-packages and match-ticket packages.
On the 30th, travel-industry sources reported that MyRealTrip’s payments for travel to the three North American countries—U.S., Canada and Mexico—in the past year rose 20.6% compared with the prior 12 months. With next year’s World Cup hosted across those countries and long-haul travel demand on the rebound, interest in the region is growing.
Canada stands out with the sharpest increase. MyRealTrip’s payments for Canada climbed 59.4% year-over-year, outpacing growth in the U.S. and Mexico. The most popular stops were Vancouver, Toronto and Banff, reflecting travelers’ desire to mix big-city experiences with natural highlights.
Package tour operators are expanding Canada offerings, too. Kyowon Tour’s Travel Easy saw Canada package bookings from January through April jump 81% year-over-year. To meet demand, Kyowon Tour launched an 11-day “Complete Canada” itinerary that visits Vancouver, Banff, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec. The multi-segment trip flies into Vancouver and out of Toronto, letting travelers take in the Rockies in the west and major eastern cities in one go.
Canada is an attractive long-haul destination for combining urban, nature and pop-culture sightseeing in a single trip. Kyowon Tour’s package includes Banff National Park, Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls wineries and a city cruise. In Quebec, the itinerary stops at Chateau Frontenac—known as a filming location for popular dramas—Dufferin Terrace and Petit-Champlain Street, with an overnight stay in Old Quebec.
Mexico has also seen rising package demand tied to match attendance. MyRealTrip’s payments for Mexico rose 24.3% year-over-year. Where short, activity-heavy trips once dominated, longer stays and sports-focused travel are growing, boosting per-person spending. MyRealTrip even operates a 2-night, 3-day tour to watch South Korea’s third group match in Monterrey.
U.S. travel demand showed steady growth as well. MyRealTrip’s payments for the U.S. increased 15.6% year-over-year, with bookings spreading across major destinations such as Los Angeles, New York, Hawaii, Las Vegas and San Francisco.
A travel-industry official said, “As more people book trips to watch matches, interest in North American travel is rising. Expect more packages that let fans experience a host city’s nature and culture as well as the games.”
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