The Germany fan guide to the 2026 World Cup
Where Germany play, the route through Houston, Toronto, and New York, the US and Canada border, entry rules, and how to plan the whole trip.
Germany do not do quiet group stages, and their 2026 route does not do quiet logistics either: it zigzags from the southern United States up to Canada and back to the east coast. Plan it properly and it is a superb three-city trip. Plan it badly and you will spend it in airport queues.
Where Germany play in the group
Germany's group spans two countries, with the middle game in Toronto. Here is the real schedule.
vs Curaçao
HoustonSun, Jun 1412:00 PM
NRG Stadium
vs Ivory Coast
TorontoSat, Jun 204:00 PM
BMO Field
vs Ecuador
New York / New JerseyThu, Jun 254:00 PM
MetLife Stadium
The Toronto match in the middle is what makes this a two-country trip, so the border is part of your plan, not an afterthought.
Following Germany city to city
The order is the whole game here, because the route crosses the border and back. Here is what the planner builds, with the real distances and the border legs flagged.
- 1Houston1 match2100 km / 1305 miTorontoBorder crossing
- 2Toronto1 match540 km / 336 miNew York / New JerseyBorder crossing
- 3New York / New Jersey1 match
- If they win the groupBostonMon, Jun 29
- Finish second, or sneak through as a best third, and the picture shifts. The full projected path, every outcome, is part of the planner.
Knockout venues depend on the final group table. Build your trip to see your full projected path and lock cities as results come in.
Knockout cities are projections from the group draw and will move with the final standings. Look at both the winner and runner-up paths before you book anything you cannot refund.
How hot will it be
Houston in mid-June can be warm and humid; Toronto and the New York area are milder. These are sober estimates from each venue's climate normals, not a live forecast, so use them to decide what to pack for the hottest leg.
- HoustonSun, Jun 14Climate-controlled32°C / 89°F
Climate-controlled stadium, comfortable inside.
What to bring: The seating bowl is air-conditioned, Bring water for the walk and queues outside.
- TorontoSat, Jun 20Mild heat25°C / 77°F
Comfortable conditions expected.
What to bring: Water to stay hydrated, Sun protection for daytime matches.
- New York / New JerseyThu, Jun 25Mild heat28°C / 83°F
Comfortable conditions expected.
What to bring: Water to stay hydrated, Sun protection for daytime matches.
Estimates from June/July climate normals per venue, not a live forecast. Indoor or air-conditioned stadiums read cooler.
Do German fans need a visa, an ESTA, or an eTA
Because the route touches both the United States and Canada, you need both electronic authorisations. A German passport is visa-exempt for each, but you need an approved ESTA for the US and an approved eTA for Canada, before you fly. The detail below is from the official program lists, dated and sourced.
ESTA for the USA
ESTAYour Germany passport is visa-exempt, so you will need an approved ESTA to fly to the USA. Apply before you travel and carry the confirmation. Confirm on the official site.
eTA for Canada
ETAYour Germany passport is visa-exempt, so you will need an approved eTA to fly to Canada. Apply before you travel and carry the confirmation. Confirm on the official site.
Entry rules change. Always confirm on the official source before you travel.
Sort both early. The crossing between Houston, Toronto, and New York is not where you want to be missing one.
Buying tickets without getting scammed
Demand for Germany games is always high, and high demand pulls scammers in. Lookalike domains, pressure to pay outside a platform, and prices that undercut everything else are red flags, not proof, but together they are a reason to stop and check.
Not sure a ticket is real?
Run the offer through the free fraud checker. It walks you through the red flags in seconds. No signup, nothing leaves your browser.
Check a ticketPlan your Germany trip in five minutes
A US to Canada to US route with two entry authorisations is a lot to coordinate by hand. The planner sequences the cities, leaves buffer days, flags both border legs, and lays out the ESTA and eTA in one place. It is free, and your itinerary is visible before any signup.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do Germany play their group games?
- Germany open against Curaçao in Houston, then play Ivory Coast in Toronto, and Ecuador in the New York and New Jersey area. The fixtures, dates, and local kickoff times are listed above.
- Do German fans need a visa for the 2026 World Cup?
- German passport holders are visa-exempt for both the USA and Canada but need an approved ESTA to fly to the US and an approved eTA to fly to Canada. Germany's group route includes a game in Toronto, so you will likely need both. Confirm on the official government sites before you travel.
- Does the Germany route cross a border?
- Yes. The group games run from the United States to Canada and back, so you cross the US and Canada border at least twice. The route map above flags the border legs so you can plan the entry authorisations.