How to Plan Your World Cup Trip

The World Cup, a soccer tournament held every four years since 1930, is the world's most-watched sporting event. Countries that have hosted the tournament include South Africa, the United States, Germany and France, and the 2014 competition will be held in Brazil. Hundreds of thousands of international enthusiasts flood the tournament to watch 64 matches. Because of the high volume of interest, it is best to begin planning your trip over a year in advance.

Instructions

    • 1

      Research the travel restrictions of the country where the World Cup is being held. You may need to apply for a visa to travel to that country; this requires having a valid U.S. passport. It can take months to get your passport and/or visa application approved, so this step should be started well in advance of the tournament.

    • 2

      Decide on your transportation method, and arrange for plane tickets or a driving route. Again, because of the event's popularity, this is something you will need to finalize early. Keep in mind that in the months leading up to the World Cup, tickets can retail for more than double their normal price. Book your flight as early as possible. You will also need to think about how you will get around once you make it to your destination; look up local train routes and bus systems, or arrange for a rental car.

    • 3

      Search for accommodations early. You may want to go through a specialist travel agency that has been approved by FIFA, the soccer federation. Because agencies snap up blocks of hotel rooms. it may be your only way to get a hotel room within a convenient distance of the venues. Be aware that hotel rooms may cost as much as four times more during the World Cup. Closer to the event, hotels may charge premiums to desperate soccer enthusiasts searching for lodging.

    • 4

      Purchase tickets to the matches you wish to see. Competition for first-round World Cup tickets typically begins well over a year before the tournament is held. Tickets are sold in five phases. The last phase is a lottery-style application system on the FIFA website that is open until late January or early February the year of tournament. You can also check your national team's website. Such sites sometimes set aside tickets to distribute to fans. Some matches will be sold out months before the Cup, while others will be available in limited quantities during the Cup and can be purchased with a credit card on the FIFA website.

    • 5

      Research local restaurants and bars near your lodging. Even if you can't get tickets to watch every game inside the stadium, you will be able to partake in the lively, spirited atmosphere in local pubs and eateries. You may also want to look up nearby grocery stores and mini markets. Prices for food and water inside the stadiums will probably be inflated, so it's a good idea to stay hydrated and well fed with outside grub.