Australia at the FIFA World Cup 2026: The Socceroos Back on the World Stage

Australia's ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes after years of progress for a country that has undergone complete soccer cultural changes over the past two decades. Back in 2006, Australia made it all the way to the round of 16 when they played in Germany, and then came back stronger at the 2022 edition when they made it all the way through to the quarter-finals in Qatar. Now, they come to North America with back-to-back qualification and an experienced lineup that includes both world-class players from top European leagues and emerging talent from Australia.

Soccer in Australia has really been booming since the inception of the A-League back in 2005, and now the fact that the Australian national team regularly plays at World Cups has only helped with that. The population of the country in North America is huge and the time zones work out better than previous competitions in Qatar and Russia, which means it's much easier for fans to travel there for games. People are definitely going to need to get their World Cup 2026 Tickets ASAP because Australia's matches usually pack stadiums to full capacity.

Can Australia Make Another Deep Run in 2026?

Australia's campaign at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup was definitely the highlight of the year in Australian football. In Qatar, the Socceroos beat Denmark in the group stage and then Tunisia in the round of 16, while only losing to the 2022 FIFA World Cup winners Argentina after a fantastic quarter-final campaign. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar signaled to the rest of the world that Australia truly deserved to be in that tournament and the roster that takes on opponents at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will build on this success.

Harry Souttar is an imposing force in the middle of the backline. Ajdin Hrustic and Cameron Devlin have the ability to create chances from midfield. Mathew Leckie is perhaps the most seasoned player in the squad but is still a dependable winger who has proven himself in elite competitions. All Australia need to do is make sure this squad can replicate some of what they showed in Qatar.

Australia were assigned to Group D with the USA, Paraguay, and Türkiye — a very tough group. The Socceroos will have to be on point from the very first game. It's going to be difficult to make it out of the group. With an expanded knockout phase at play, it's going to take the Socceroos some serious talent for this squad to have as much success as they have in recent World Cups.

Visa Requirements for Australian Fans Travelling to North America

For Australian fans, the entry process is relatively straightforward across all three host countries.

USA: Australia is among the countries in the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing Australian passport holders to visit the US for stays of 90 days or less without having to obtain a visa. However, you will need to obtain an approved ESTA — an Electronic System for Travel Authorization — prior to travel. You can apply online, and there's a small fee involved. Generally speaking, it is approved pretty quickly, but it's always a good idea to apply early. The US State Department has a page dedicated to World Cup visitors at state.gov/fifa-world-cup-26-visas, detailing all entry requirements for the tournament. You'll just need to ensure your passport is valid for the duration of your visit.

Canada: Australians are able to enter Canada without a visa for stays up to 6 months. If you're arriving by air, you'll need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This is done online and generally approved very quickly. Canada has a strong Australian community and is a popular hub for the diaspora, especially in Vancouver and Toronto. This will provide an element of familiarity to fans travelling to games in Canadian cities.

Mexico: Australians don't need a visa to enter Mexico for stays of up to 180 days. Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are all accessible and easily accommodated without the need for additional paperwork.

Host Cities: Where Australian Fans Should Be

Australia are in Group D and will play their group matches at US host stadiums alongside the USA, Paraguay and Türkiye. The knockout stages are potentially set for venues including SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), MetLife Stadium (New Jersey) and AT&T Stadium (Dallas). The Final is at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

Los Angeles is the obvious destination for Australian fans in North America, and a large and long-standing Australian expatriate community — notably in areas like Santa Monica, Venice and the South Bay — means fans will not be strangers to the area. Add to that the weather (July weather in LA will be warm, dry and sunny), and it will be much like an extension of home on the east coast of Australia. In addition to that, SoFi is arguably one of the world's greatest sporting venues to watch a match at.

San Francisco/Bay Area has a notable Australian community, which will again provide familiarity for visiting fans. The Bay Area, and host venue Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, is well suited for travelling Australian fans, thanks to the relaxed and outdoor-focused lifestyle and great infrastructure to handle the crowd.

New York/New Jersey will be the location of the Final and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will be the ultimate destination for any Socceroos fan hoping the final whistle blows on July 19. There is a growing Aussie community throughout the wider NY area, so get ready to enjoy plenty of international energy as the tournament moves into the knockout rounds.

Accommodation: Where to Stay

Accommodation is filling up around the major venues. Here is some advice on where to base yourself in each city:

Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium is located in Inglewood and the most convenient nearby suburbs are El Segundo, Manhattan Beach and Marina del Rey (all accessible by the Metro K Line to the stadium). Santa Monica and Venice are a little further away but much more popular with the Aussies and more vibrant if you are looking to spend more than a day or two in the city.

San Francisco/Bay Area: Hotels in Santa Clara, San Jose and Palo Alto will get you the most direct access to Levi's Stadium; you can also get into the stadium by Caltrain from San Francisco.

New York/New Jersey: East Rutherford and Secaucus are the closest suburbs to MetLife Stadium. Manhattan offers the full-on experience but with premium costs for rooms across the knockout stage — match days will have direct NJ Transit services to the stadium.

Dallas: AT&T Stadium is in the city of Arlington between Dallas and Fort Worth. You can stay in Arlington for match day, but for a longer stay and a better food and entertainment experience, you'd be better suited to downtown Dallas.

Booking accommodation with free cancellation is the best option — Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia — as your needs will change as we get into the World Cup and find out which cities you will be in.

How to Get There: Flights and Travel

The most convenient flights out of Australia will generally be from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) airports. Direct services to Los Angeles LAX, or one-stop options to San Francisco SFO are on offer. Connecting services will connect you on to New York JFK and Dallas DFW airports. Airlines such as Qantas, Virgin Australia, United, Delta and American Airlines operate these routes. If you are further afield in Queensland or Western Australia, flights from Brisbane (BNE) and Perth (PER) will have transpacific connections as well.

The transpacific flight from Australia to the US is one of the longest in regular civil aviation — a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles is around 14 to 15 hours. Make sure to consider how much time you would like to spend recovering from jet lag ahead of the match, particularly should any of your matches be early kick-offs. Transpacific fares are on the rise as the World Cup gets closer, and you will be best served by booking your flights as far in advance as possible. For travel between the US host cities, Southwest, Delta and American Airlines will have frequent connections across all eleven venues; consider a multi-city trip and if possible, allow a day in between each city for travel.

Tickets: The Practicalities

World Cup 2026 tickets can only be purchased through FIFA.com. This is the first stop for any fan wanting to check if there are any available tickets on offer, view the resale marketplace or purchase ticket and hospitality packages. If you are unable to secure the matches you want directly through FIFA, avoid the temptation of going on Reddit, Facebook or other social media groups. Instead, use verified resellers such as Ticombo, Seatpick, or any other reputable verified secondary market where they will guarantee your purchase. Keep in mind that prices on the secondary market will probably be above face value. If you're purchasing for a group, do a bit of research and check-in with the group, as tickets for adjacent seats aren't necessarily sold together and every venue has a unique layout.

Practical Tips for Australian Fans

Currency: All venues and across all host cities use US Dollars. Don't use your airport exchange counter, but rather use ATMs or services like Wise for better rates on the Aussie Dollar.

Phone plans: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone Australia SIM cards generally do not offer US roaming options at reasonable rates. Airalo eSIM or getting a T-Mobile tourist plan for a few weeks are the best options if you don't want to lose data during your stay.

Health insurance: Unlike Australia, the United States does not provide medical care for foreigners for free and you will be expected to pay up front before you can receive treatment. Make sure you take out comprehensive travel insurance before you go and check that it includes medical. Medicare will not cover you in the States.

Australian Consulates: Australian consulates are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Houston and Chicago. Save these emergency numbers before you set off.

Jet lag: The time difference between eastern Australia and the US West Coast is 15 to 17 hours depending on daylight saving. Allow at least two to three days on arrival before any match commitments to recover properly from the flight.

Weather: In July the weather is warm and sunny in LA, a bit hotter than a mild Australian summer. Dallas and Miami will be a lot hotter and more humid. Make sure to bring plenty of water if you are in one of the outdoor fan parks, especially in the southern destinations.

Final Thought

After back-to-back appearances at the knockout stage of the World Cup in 2022 and with a promising current squad, this year's tournament is one the Socceroos fans are looking forward to the most. Playing on US soil with relatively similar time zones to the Eastern and Western states, large pockets of the Australian population on the West Coast and state-of-the-art stadiums make for an ideal location to help continue the World Cup saga of this squad.

If you don't have your tickets yet, you'll have to hurry. Australia World Cup 2026 Tickets will be in high demand, and we are only just approaching June. Make sure you get your tickets through a trusted seller, or it will be a bummer when the tournament arrives on your television.

With a bit of luck, the Socceroos will go on a run and make the trip worthwhile.

Disclaimer: Information related to visa requirements, availability of hotels, flight prices and ticket sales is subject to change. Fans are urged to ensure they are up to speed with the latest information for travel and entry by the Australian and US governments, FIFA official pages and their airline. Tickets may also sell on the secondary market for above face value.