By the time the final whistle blew on this summer’s international football tournament, most fans were familiar with the names of the 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the USA – and that could offer a savvy route into capitalising on the World Cup’s legacy by selling holidays to these cities.
Here are a few ideas to get agents started.
Canada
Toronto, Ontario
Toronto is well-placed to combine with holidays that incorporate Niagara Falls and the Thousand Islands. The city’s neighbourhoods, including the Distillery District and the bohemian Kensington Market area, are ideal for slow exploration. Popular attractions include the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario and CN Tower. A boat trip on Lake Ontario is a top trip for skyline views. destinationtoronto.com
Vancouver, British Columbia
The market stalls of Granville Island and streets of Gastown offer visitors insights into the multifaceted character of Vancouver, whose skyline can be appreciated while viewing the totem poles in Stanley Park. Nature is easily accessible with the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain, two popular spots in a city also offering access to Whistler Blackcomb resort and Vancouver Island. destinationvancouver.com
Mexico
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Jalisco is famed for tequila production and mariachi music. Attractions in the state capital include the public squares around the cathedral, such as the Plaza de Armas and the Hospicio Cabañas – a UNESCO site whose frescoes are regarded as cultural treasures. Strolling the Tlaquepaque district means opportunities to visit pottery workshops, while the circular pyramids of Guachimontones warrant an excursion. guadalajaravisit.com
Mexico City, Ciudad de México
Zócalo, the historic centre of Mexico’s sprawling capital, warrants visiting for attractions including the National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral and Templo Mayor Museum. For insights into Pre-Columbian heritage, the National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec Park and Aztec-era canals of Xochimilco, an area with colourful boats and a festive vibe, are compelling. So too are day trips to the pyramids at Teotihuacán and El Tepozteco in Tepoztlán. mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx
Monterrey, Nuevo León
The Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Hill) rises over Mexico’s ‘City of Mountains’. Along with the nearby Chipinque Ecological Park, it is one of the reasons the area is popular with hikers and climbers. The vast Macroplaza square dominates the heart of Monterrey, whose industrial heritage can be appreciated by following the Santa Lucia Riverwalk to the Fundidora Park, landscaped around a former steel foundry. ocvmty.com.mx
United States
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is no stranger to major sporting events, with the 22-acre Centennial Olympic Park a legacy of the 1996 Summer Games. Attractions include the interactive World of Coca-Cola and the huge Georgia Aquarium. The city’s connections with Martin Luther King Jr. are explored at The King Center and in the national historical park with the birth house of the civil rights activist. discoveratlanta.com
Boston, Massachusetts
The Freedom Trail – a 2.5-mile heritage route that links 16 sites, including the Boston Common, Faneuil Hall and the Paul Revere House – is an ideal way to explore the history of one of oldest cities in the U.S. Tours of Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox baseball stadium, will appeal to sports fans. Whale-watching tours sail from the waterfront, whose attractions include the Institute of Contemporary Art. meetboston.com
Dallas, Texas
Things are reputedly bigger in Texas and, spanning 20 blocks, the Dallas Arts District is the country’s largest. It encompasses cultural hubs from the Dallas Museum of Art to the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Popular attractions include Dealey Plaza’s Sixth Floor Museum, exploring the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the Western heritage of the nearby Fort Worth Stockyards. visitdallas.com
Houston, Texas
The problem visitors might have is deciding which of the 21 institutions in Houston’s Museum District to prioritise. The Space Center Houston is the city’s leading attraction, offering tours of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and telling the story of exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. Galveston, one of the country’s largest cruise ports, is an hour from downtown Houston. visithoustontexas.com
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas
Liberty Memorial Tower’s observation deck is the prime location for travellers to get their bearings in Kansas City; it’s part of the U.S. National WWI Museum and Memorial. The free-to-ride KC Streetcar is ideal for getting between attractions, including those in the Arts District, which is the home of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is a short drive east of the city. visitkc.com
Los Angeles, California
A short drive from LAX, Santa Monica is an ideal base both before or after international flights, thanks to its pier and sandy beach with plenty of space to unwind. Guided hikes offer a way of seeing the iconic Hollywood sign, while the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures explores movie-making heritage. Tours of the Paramount and Warner Brothers studios bring opportunities to visit film sets. discoverlosangeles.com
Miami, Florida
Renowned for the Art Deco architecture of South Beach, an area popular for nightlife, and its Latin culture, with Little Havana the Cuban-American community’s vibrant hub, Miami can be combined with Caribbean cruises departing its port. Top attractions in the city include the lavish Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and the colourful murals of the Wynwood Walls outdoor gallery. Outdoor adventures and wildlife viewing are reasons to visit the nearby Everglades National Park.
visitmiami.com
New York / New Jersey
NFL fans can visit the 2026 World Cup final venue by booking tickets to Jets and Giants games. Guided tours are also a way of experiencing the stadium, less than eight miles from Times Square and Central Park. Booking ahead helps ensure visitors get to see their choice of Broadway shows, while a CityPASS is ideal for first-time visitors looking to head to top-tier attractions, including the Empire State Building Observatory and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. nyctourism.com / visitnj.org
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center and National Constitution Center celebrate Philly’s connections with the U.S.’s foundation. Foodies are likely to enjoy browsing Reading Terminal Market: its offerings include hoagies and cheesesteaks. Art aficionados can appreciate masterpieces in the Barnes Foundation, Rodin Museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which has a Rocky Balboa statue at the foot of its famous steps. visitphilly.com
San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), California
The Bay Area’s stadium is in Silicon Valley, closer to downtown San Jose than San Francisco. That puts visitors within reach of Muir Woods National Monument’s giant redwood trees and the wineries of the Napa and Sonoma valleys. In San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf is a popular attraction, in part for the proximity offered to sea lions at Pier 39, and tours of the National Park Service-administered Alcatraz Island, site of the famous military prison. sftravel.com / discoversantaclara.org
Seattle, Washington
The iconic Space Needle provides views of Seattle’s skyline, the Puget Sound and nearby mountain ranges – including as far as Mount Rainer on clear days. At its base, Chihuly Garden and Glass showcases the work of Dale Chihuly. From there, it’s a short hop to the Frank Gehry-designed Museum of Pop Culture, whose collection includes exhibits on Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix. Pike Place Market is ideal for savouring Seattle’s famous coffee culture. seattleexplored.org
Did you know… For one of the best introductions to Seattle, take to the water with Argosy Cruises on its one-hour Harbor Cruise.
Departing from the downtown waterfront, the cruise offers panoramic views of the city skyline, Elliott Bay and the surrounding Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, with the chance to spot Mount Rainier on a clear day.
A local guide brings Seattle’s story to life along the way, from the city’s historic waterfront to its bustling working harbour and one of the largest shipping terminals on the U.S. West Coast. Guests can move between indoor seating and open-air viewing decks, with a full-service bar offering local beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks and snacks for purchase.
Compact, scenic and easy to fit into a city break, the Harbor Cruise gives first-time visitors a sense of Seattle’s geography, history and maritime character in just one hour. argosycruises.com
Book it
North America Travel Service offers tours and itineraries across North America, including the 14-night fly-drive Texas Sights and Saddles holiday, visiting ranches across the state. The tours are priced from £3,517pp and this includes return flights from London Heathrow, all accommodation and car hire. This price is for departures in November 2026. northamericatravelservice.com
