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2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 11 and runs until July 19, 2026 across several major North American cities. In Canada, matches are being played in Toronto and Vancouver, with the knockout stage still ahead.

The scale of the event will drive high demand, and flight prices are likely to rise quickly. However, Canadian travellers with loyalty points can use a well-optimized strategy to travel at a lower cost or even for free.

This comprehensive guide shows you how to identify, book and optimize your flights to host cities using points programs. To plan your entire trip, also check out our 2026 FIFA World Cup travel and points hub.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points - Header-1024x538-fifa 2026 vols flights 2

2026 FIFA World Cup Host Cities

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in 16 cities across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This continental distribution makes the event accessible to a large number of fans while offering a variety of travel options depending on where spectators are coming from.

In Canada, two major cities will host matches: Toronto and Vancouver. These cities are natural gateways for Canadian soccer fans, thanks to their modern infrastructure and capacity to host international events.

In the United States, several major cities have been selected: New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City.

Spread across the East Coast, West Coast, South, and Midwest, these cities offer a wide range of unique cultural experiences.

In Mexico, three cities will be hosting: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Each offers a unique atmosphere, an exotic vacation climate, and a rich football tradition, in addition to benefiting from good air connectivity with North America.

No matter which city you choose, it’s important to plan early to take advantage of the best transportation and accommodation options, especially during high-demand periods like the World Cup.

Flights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Travel Points

To find the best flight options to the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities, start with the Google Flights tool and the « Explore » function.

It allows you to quickly view prices from your departure airport, such as Montreal, to various destinations in North America, over a given period.

For example, it’s easy to see that Miami stands out as one of the most affordable host cities for the dates searched.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points - coupe du monde fifa points flex fifa 2026 flights

Once you’ve found a good fare, the best strategy is to book your flight with your credit card, then apply your travel points afterward, as a statement credit. This is where the full strength of flexible rewards programs like Scene+ points from the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card comes into play.

Unlike programs that restrict you to limited award seat availability, here you have total freedom: you choose your airline, your travel dates, and any stopovers if needed, and then get reimbursed in points afterwards. It’s simple, seamless, and without restrictions.

A major advantage of this card: there are no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad, making it an excellent choice for travellers.

Another strength of the program is that you have up to 12 months after the purchase date to use your Scene+ points to get a statement credit. So, even if you don’t have enough points at the time of the transaction, you can continue to accumulate them stress-free and apply them later. The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card allows you to earn up to 3 points per dollar on everyday purchases like groceries. You will therefore have the opportunity to earn a significant amount of points with this high multiplier.

If direct flights are too expensive or unavailable, consider a more strategic approach: fly into another major nearby city and complete your journey by ground transportation.

For example, to get to Seattle, it might be more advantageous to fly to Vancouver, then rent a car or take a bus across the border (about a 3 to 4 hour drive).

2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points - coupe du monde fifa destination flex fifa 2026 flights

With Scene+ points, you can cover not only your initial flight, but also car rentals, bus tickets, and even accommodation if needed. This flexibility gives you real adaptability, which is especially useful during a major event like the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points

Ends Nov 1, 2026

Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Flights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Aeroplan

The Aeroplan program is one of the most effective in the country for booking domestic and transborder flights, especially with Air Canada and its partners like United Airlines. However, during peak periods (as will be the case during the FIFA World Cup 2026), point redemption rates are likely to be significantly higher than usual.

Why? Because Air Canada and United apply dynamic pricing. In other words, point prices vary according to supply and demand. The greater the demand, the higher the cost in points.

In normal circumstances, it’s realistic to find round-trip economy flights starting at around 15,000 Aeroplan points for a short-haul flight (e.g. Montreal – Toronto) and around 25,000 points for a long-haul flight (e.g. Montreal – Vancouver or to certain U.S. cities). An ideal price for a short getaway with less than 25,000 points!

Maximize your flight options with Aeroplan for a trip to the United States - grille aeroplan 2025 na

Currently, when you look at Aeroplan flight prices in points for host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you’ll often see rates that are nearly twice as high as normal for direct flights. This isn’t surprising, as the event draws huge crowds and also coincides with the start of summer holidays, driving up demand.

So to increase your chances of success with Aeroplan, monitor availability in advance, use search tools like Roame or Seats.aero, and be prepared to be flexible on dates and airports to maximize your points.

Flights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup – VIPorter

The VIPorter program from Porter Airlines can be an excellent option for travellers from Eastern Canada, particularly departing from Toronto or Montreal, to several host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup such as New York, Boston, Miami, or Vancouver. Its simple: you can redeem your points directly for any Porter flight, with no availability restrictions.

For example, a one-way flight from Toronto to New York is easily found at around 6,000 to 7,500 VIPorter points, while a one-way flight from Montreal to Vancouver can cost 8,000 to 11,000 points, depending on the season.

VIPorter: How to Book a Flight With Points - YUL YVR final FR

Although the scope of the network is more limited than that of Air Canada, Porter covers several major U.S. World Cup host cities, with direct flights from Toronto and Montreal, making it an interesting alternative to other programs. What’s more, you can use VIPorter points with partners like Air Transat and Alaska Airlines, opening up a whole new range of possibilities with this extended network.

Flights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Fixed-Rate Awards

During periods of high demand, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fixed-rate award programs become especially valuable for booking flights, particularly within North America. Unlike dynamic pricing programs, these fixed-rate charts provide predictable and stable value, regardless of market fluctuations.

The principle is simple: you redeem a fixed number of points for an airline ticket, up to a predetermined maximum amount (excluding taxes and fees). It’s a great way to get around the price hikes in cash or points that often occur during world events or peak travel periods.

Several Canadian programs work with this model, including:

For example, with the fixed chart of American Express Membership Rewards, a flight between Montreal and New York will cost 15,000 points, as long as the base fare (before taxes) does not exceed $300. Whether the ticket costs $120, $250, or $299, you will always pay 15,000 points plus taxes and fees.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points - grille fixe 2

If the ticket price exceeds this ceiling (for example, $427 in the screenshot below right), you simply pay the difference in cash, in this case $127, while using your 15,000 points to cover the maximum portion.

This approach is especially useful when flight prices skyrocket due to high demand, as will likely be the case for host cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, especially if you’re booking at the last minute.

2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points - grille fixe amex
2026 FIFA World Cup: Affordable Flights with Points - grille fixe amex 2

Bottom Line

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a historic moment for soccer fans. But for those who want to experience it in person, the financial challenge will also come down to flights: how can you get to a host city without blowing your budget?

This is where Scene+ points and the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card stand out and shine for their flexibility and ease of earning and redemption. Unlike other programs that require award tickets with limited availability, you book any flight as a regular purchase, with the airline of your choice, on dates that suit you. Then, you apply your points as a statement credit, hassle-free.

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points

Ends Nov 1, 2026

Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

How can I find affordable flights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

To find affordable flights to the FIFA 2026 World Cup host cities, use tools like Google Flights to compare prices. Also consider using your points to cover travel costs, which can reduce or even eliminate the expense.

What are the best strategies for using loyalty points for flights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

First, book your flight with a credit card that offers a rewards program, then use your points to get a statement credit afterward. Programs like Scene+ from the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card are particularly flexible, allowing you to choose any airline and use your points without restriction.

What are the benefits of fixed-rate points programs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Fixed-rate programs, such as American Express Membership Rewards Fixed Points Travel, let you redeem a set number of points for a flight, regardless of price fluctuations. This can be especially valuable for offsetting fare increases during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Why are Aeroplan points rates higher during FIFA 2026?

During peak periods like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Aeroplan uses dynamic pricing, meaning the number of points required increases with higher demand. It’s recommended to monitor availability in advance and stay flexible with your travel dates and choice of airports.

Which host cities are served by direct flights from Canada for FIFA 2026?

From Canada, major cities like Toronto and Vancouver offer direct flights to several U.S. and Mexican host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Book your tickets early to secure your seat and use your points to help lower your travel costs.

Our featured card

Annual fee
$150
Our valuation
$350

Milesopedia first-year estimateFirst-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.

Welcome offer
Up to 35,000 points

Ends Nov 1, 2026

Apply Now

on Scotiabank's website

With this welcome offer for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card +* CardMC, you’ll earn 25,000 welcome bonus Scene+ points after charging $2,000 in purchases to your account within the first three months.

Plus, every year, earn an annual bonus of at least 10,000 Scene+ points when you charge at least $40,000 in purchases to your account. In total, the offer represents up to 35,000 Scene+ points and a value of up to $1,250 in the first year, including rewards, savings on foreign transaction fees and airport lounge access.

With the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card, you earn 3 points per $1 spent at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland and participating Co-ops, and 2 points per $1 spent at other grocery stores, restaurants, eligible entertainment and eligible daily transit. You earn 1 point per $1 on all your other everyday purchases.

These points can be redeemed against any travel purchase at a rate of 1,000 points = $10 (flights, hotels, all-inclusives and even Airbnb), or as cash back with Scene+ at the same rate.

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card also offers:

  • No fees for foreign currency transactions
  • 6 complimentary airport VIP lounge passes
  • Excellent insurance for your travels and purchases
  • Visa Infinite* Concierge Services

We have named this credit card the Best Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Annual fee

Primary card$150
Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$60,000
Household$100,000

Conversion fees

0%

Earning rate

  • 2xGroceries
  • 2xRestaurants
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xEntertainment
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$650
2nd Year Value$397

Card benefits

Concierge service24/7
Airport lounge access$240

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $1,000,000 / 25 days
Travel medical (65+)Up to $1,000,000 / 3 days
Trip CancellationUp to $1,500
Trip InterruptionUp to $2,500
Delayed BaggageUp to $1,000
Lost BaggageUp to $1,000
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $1,000
Travel AccidentUp to $500,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded
Extended Warranty+1 years
Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

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Our reviews and rankings are based on an objective assessment. Advertisers do not influence our content. We may receive compensation through some links; our analysis and opinions remain independent.