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An international soccer match is planned like an award flight: the date is fixed, demand is concentrated on a few days, and everything hinges on when you book. The method does not change from one tournament to the next, whether it is a World Cup, a continental championship or the Olympic tournament.
This guide gathers what works at every edition: how ticketing is organised, which card to use on site, where to stay and when to book the flight. For the wider view, see our guide on how to attend a sporting event with your points.
Ticketing for an international tournament almost always follows the same sequence. A presale reserved for holders of a partner card opens first. One or more random draws follow, then a first-come, first-served sale while seats remain. The official resale platform runs alongside and is the only channel where tickets are verified.
Two habits pay off at every edition. Register for the presales as soon as they are announced, even before you know which match you want: your place in the queue matters more than the choice of fixture. And never buy outside the official platform, because fraud multiplies as the date approaches.
Our dedicated guide covers how to get tickets for a major sporting event.
The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card is an excellent choice for travelers heading to the World Cup. It combines a generous welcome bonus, 2 to 3 points per dollar on essential categories, and most importantly: no foreign transaction fees on purchases in foreign currencies.
This 2.5% savings advantage on every transaction abroad makes all the difference if you plan to attend matches in the United States or Mexico in addition to Canada.
Additionally, the 6 annual airport lounge passes and comprehensive travel insurance make it an ideal travel companion. Your Scene+ points apply directly to all your travel expenses (flights, hotels, Airbnb) at the attractive rate of 1,000 points = $10 off.
Milesopedia named this card the Best Credit Card Without Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026. For sports fans planning a cross-border trip, it’s a tangible advantage worth hundreds of dollars in savings.
Here’s how to get the most out of the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card depending on which country you attend matches in.
Just weeks before kickoff, the price surge is already well underway in hotels and Airbnb in both host cities. Availability in central areas is extremely limited. It’s essential to explore alternative accommodation options.
Don’t hesitate to target Marriott Bonvoy hotels located on the outskirts of Toronto and Vancouver, accessible by public transit or car. Prioritize using your free night certificates, which are your best asset for saving on a multi-day stay.
The great advantage of Scene+ points lies in their flexibility. They apply to all your travel expenses without restriction, including Airbnb rentals and any other travel expense. With 50,000 Scene+ points accumulated through your Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you get $500 to apply to any accommodation.
To learn all the best search tips, check out our article accommodation for a sporting event.
Book the flight as soon as the date of the match is known. As a tournament approaches, fares climb week after week toward the host cities, and award seats are the first to disappear.
Start with Google Flights and its “Explore” feature to identify the best opportunities to host cities. If you have Aeroplan points, WestJet or VIPorter, now is the time to use them. A fixed-date trip is exactly the kind of occasion you accumulate for.
Read our article finding an affordable flight to a sporting event to learn all the details.
If you’re traveling to watch matches in the United States and Mexico, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card saves you from paying 2.5% in foreign transaction fees on all your transactions. Plus, it’s a Visa card, and Visa is the official payment partner of several major federations. On their ticketing platforms, at souvenir kiosks and inside official venues, it is sometimes the only method accepted.
Here are the most common pitfalls we see among travelers preparing for the World Cup. Avoid them and you’ll protect both your budget and your peace of mind.
No ticket? The experience is still within reach. Every major tournament sets up official viewing zones in its host cities, with big screens, live music and street food. Entry is almost always free, and the atmosphere often justifies the trip on its own.
The maths changes completely at that point. With no ticket to pay for, the trip comes down to the flight and the room, the two expenses your points cover best. It is the cheapest way to experience a tournament on site.
The tactics on this page are not specific to soccer. Locking an award seat as soon as the calendar opens, aiming for a room on a transit line outside the centre, keeping flexible points rather than trapping them in a single program: those three habits apply to any high-demand trip.
A major soccer tournament comes around every two to four years. Hockey, on the other hand, fills a seven-month calendar every single year. That is where these tactics pay off most often, because the abundance of dates lets you pick the night when the award seat costs the least.
To apply the method to any sport, see our guide on how to attend a sporting event with your points.
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