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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws closer, pilots and those traveling by air should be aware that extra precautions will be taken to keep the skies safe and uncongested.
The World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19 in 16 different cities. Certain FBOs and airports in those areas will issue Prior Permission Required (PPR) NOTAMs to prevent congestion. The NBAA advises that parking reservations are made at FBOs as far in advance as possible and operators are encouraged to provide applicable reservation numbers within their flight plan to prevent surface delays. Flow programs are expected, especially as the semifinal and final matches approach.
WingX predicted that activity will increase by up to 12.9x surge factor on average during the FIFA World Cup finals. Travelling for the games is expected to be more complex in 2026 due to the decision to split them across three countries, according to the World Aviation Festival. Share America predicted in January that the Cup could attract as many as 10 million tourists to the U.S. alone. While this number may potentially be dampened by the recent fuel shortage, airports near the games can still expect a higher number of travelers than usual.
The airspace around each region will be managed with certain air traffic management tactics and initiatives to keep demand at appropriate levels. These tactics include:
Ground Delay Programs
Airspace Flow Programs
Ground Stops
Time-Based Metering
Miles-in-Trail / Minutes-in-Trail Restrictions
Airborne Holding
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On the day of a match, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) will cover a 3 nautical mile radius around the stadium. The TFRs will typically last from an hour before the match to an hour after the match. Any flight transitioning into the restricted airspace must stay in contact with ATC and squawk an assigned code.Delays can be expected in the evenings after a match and the mornings after. Route structures could be published to streamline air traffic and can be checked on the FAA's Current Reroutes page.
Matches will take place in these cities:
Atlanta
Boston
Dallas
Houston
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Miami
New Jersey
Philadelphia
Seattle
San Francisco
Toronto
Vancouver
Guadalajara
Mexico City
Monterrey