Luxury World Cup Travelers Are Booking Later—and Spending More
Luxury sports travelers are holding off on 2026 World Cup plans until closer to kickoff—but spending heavily on bespoke semifinal and final experiences once they book.
Photo: Karsten Winegeart / Unsplash
As anticipation builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, one luxury travel company says affluent clients are increasingly treating the tournament’s biggest matches less like a traditional vacation and more like a high-end, last-minute event purchase.
According to Roadtrips, travelers are waiting longer to commit to semifinal and final packages for the 2026 tournament—even as spending levels continue to climb. The company says demand is especially strong for customized itineraries tied to the semifinals and championship match, which will take place in the New York/New Jersey region.
Roadtrips’ current World Cup offerings start at roughly $6,675 per person for semifinal packages and more than $18,500 per person for final experiences, though the company says many clients are spending well beyond those entry points through upgraded hotels, extended stays, private transportation, and bespoke add-ons.
“We’re seeing many travelers approach the World Cup the same way they approach the Super Bowl, Formula 1 Monaco or the Olympics,” said Dave Guenther, president of Roadtrips. “They want the flexibility to wait for the most exciting matchups, but once they decide to go, they’re looking for a seamless, highly personalized experience with premium accommodations and VIP-level service.”
The trend is holding true across all luxury sports travel, where flexibility and exclusivity are increasingly outweighing early-booking behavior. Rather than locking in plans years in advance, many affluent travelers are reportedly waiting to see which teams advance, who they want to travel with, and what hospitality inventory becomes available before finalizing arrangements.
The compressed booking window could create both opportunity and pressure as inventory tightens closer to the tournament, though. With matches spread across North America, demand will likely surge around marquee games, making access to premium hotels, VIP hospitality, and private transportation increasingly competitive.
Roadtrips also noted that many of the bookings surrounding the semifinals and final are being positioned as multi-generational or bucket-list trips rather than standalone sporting events.
“Many of these trips are multi-generational or bucket-list experiences,” added Guenther. “Clients aren’t just attending a match, they’re building an entire luxury travel experience around one of the biggest sporting events in the world.”
