With February’s ticket ballot results now released, football fans across the UK are turning their attention from hopeful anticipation to planning, and paying for, their 2026 World Cup adventure across the US, Canada and Mexico.
However, a money expert at specialist travel insurance comparison site PayingTooMuch, is now warning that the rush to secure flights and accommodation often leaves insurance as an afterthought, and an expensive one.
For England and Scotland fans, the stakes are high, and the ticket prices are even higher. According to estimates from the England Fans’ Embassy, a fan attending every England match if they made it to the final-even buying tickets in the cheapest category – would spend at least £3,400 ($4,700).
The costs don’t stop there. Fans flying in from abroad may also be caught out by the limited public transport to stadiums in the United States, especially compared to previous World Cup hosts like Qatar. That means more spending on car hire, taxis and internal flights. Once long-haul flights, accommodation, travel between host cities and food are added, many supporters may be staring down five-figure totals – turning a dream fixture list into a very expensive away day.
With football fans willing to part with their last penny for the perfect trip, Hannah Mayfield is warning that poor insurance choices could wipe out savings before kick-off.
Pressed for time and eager to secure bookings, many fans simply tick the insurance box offered by airlines or package providers, unaware that these policies can end up costing more in the long run.
This can be particularly costly for fans with pre-existing medical conditions, who may be charged significantly higher premiums or find key conditions excluded altogether. With rising rates of long-term illnesses and estimates noting 1 in 5 people (21.6% of UK population or 15 million) live with a medical condition – this could get seriously expensive for Brits.
Hannah Mayfield, money expert at PayingTooMuch, says this is where football fans risk throwing money away.
“You wouldn’t book the first hotel you see, so why accept the first insurance quote?” says Hannah. “When buying a policy, it’s helpful to take a few extra minutes and compare travel insurance and focus on what you actually need, not just the cheapest price. That means checking the level of medical cover and whether cancellation protection is high enough to cover your trip. When thousands of pounds are already on the line, this is not the place to cut corners.”
Hannah’s advice is especially relevant for the thousands of football fans set to the fly westwards. After all, FIFA confirmed that the UK was among the top visiting nations to the previous 2022 World Cup.
As this year’s tournament is set to eclipse previous destinations for travel expenses, Hannah is urging fans to apply the same scrutiny to insurance as they do to flights and hotels.
“During any long-haul trip, travellers deal with extended stays and move between multiple host cities, so the risk of disruption is higher than ever,” explains Hannah. “Delayed flights, lost baggage, cancelled connections or medical emergencies abroad could quickly turn a dream trip into a financial nightmare without proper cover.”
With the 2026 World Cup offering the perfect chance to combine a world-class sporting event with a once-in-a-lifetime holiday, a little extra preparation goes a long way. Adding the right travel insurance cover to your booking helps ensure the only surprises you experience are on the pitch.
Hannah reiterates, “taking the time to research and compare options ensures you get a policy tailored to your needs, while also protecting you against unexpected situations and cancellations.”
