Track Tickets
2026 World Cup Guadalajara: Tickets & Travel Guide
As Mexico prepares to play its part in the 2026 World Cup alongside the USA and Canada, host city Guadalajara is gearing up for a summer of football fever. Renowned for mariachi music, tequila production, and colonial architecture, Guadalajara is widely known as the cultural heart of Mexico and will serve as the perfect tournament host city. For the first time since 1986, it is ready to welcome football fans from around the world with street celebrations, passionate local supporters, and some unforgettable football.
How to buy tickets for the World Cup matches in City
The World Cup is the pinnacle of professional football, and it only comes around every four years, so tickets are in high demand and notoriously difficult to get your hands on. In fact, it's common for fans to reach out to our support team asking: How can I book World Cup tickets in Guadalajara? And it can be tricky. Let's walk you through all the steps so you can start thinking about booking your flights across the pond.
- Select the match you want to attend and click 'View Tickets'.
- Select the area you would like to sit within the stadium graphic on the right-hand side.
- Select the number of tickets you would like to purchase.
- Click on the green 'Buy' button.
- Complete the order form using your personal details.
- Don't forget to check that all your information has been input and is correct.
- Click 'Make Payment'.
- The tickets are now yours!
Ticket prices tend to vary depending on the seat category and match type, so do bear that in mind when selecting matches. Some games, mainly knockout matches or popular teams, can sell out incredibly quickly, so make sure you book early and are on high alert for when tickets come on sale!
Which stadium in the City hosts World Cup matches
The 2026 World Cup will showcase 104 matches throughout the tournament, with 4 of them played at Guadalajara's iconic Estadio Akron. The stadium is currently home to Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara, and with a capacity of 48,000, it is the Mexican host stadium with the smallest capacity at the World Cup. However, with plenty of maintenance work being done before the tournament in the summer, Estadio Akron is sure to pack a punch when the World Cup kicks off.
Fun fact: during the World Cup, Estadio Akron will be referred to as 'Estadio Guadalajara' in line with the World Cup's sponsorship and branding regulations.
| City | Stadium | Capacity | Number of Games | Stages Hosted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | 48,071 | 4 | Group Stage |
Fan zones locations in City
World Cup Fan Festivals will be hosted across North America during the 2026 World Cup, giving fans without match tickets the chance to immerse themselves in the tournament's electric atmosphere. These official fan zones will feature live match screenings, local food, music, and entertainment.
Guadalajara's Fan Festival will take place at Plaza de la Liberación, a historic square at the heart of the city. Situated between the Guadalajara Cathedral and Teatro Degollado, the square was named to commemorate Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's decree abolishing slavery in 1810. A popular gathering spot for both locals and tourists, the Plaza hosts open-air events, exhibitions, and street performances, making it the ideal venue to welcome waves of international football fans in the summer.
Accommodation tips in the city for football fans
Depending on whether you're planning to soak up the World Cup atmosphere at the Guadalajara Fan Festival or you've got tickets to a match and would like to stay closer to the stadium, there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from. Here's a full guide of the options you have at your disposal.
Near Estadio Guadalajara
| Category | Hotel Name | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-Friendly (< £130/night) | Hotel Santa Irene | 5-minute drive |
| Hotel Real Zapopan | 10-minute drive | |
| Hotel La Mansión del Sol | 15-minute drive | |
| Mid-Range (£130–£230/night) | Fiesta Inn Guadalajara Poniente | 5-minute drive |
| Holiday Inn Express Guadalajara Vallarta | 10-minute drive | |
| Wyndham Garden Guadalajara Acueducto | 15-minute drive | |
| Luxury (> £300/night) | Hyatt Regency Andares Guadalajara | 20-minute drive |
| Hard Rock Hotel Guadalajara | 25-minute drive | |
| Quinta Real Guadalajara | 30-minute drive |
Near Plaza de la Liberación (Historic Center)
| Category | Hotel Name | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-Friendly (< £130/night) | Hotel Dali Plaza Ejecutivo | 5-minute walk |
| Hotel Fénix | 10-minute walk | |
| Hotel San Francisco Plaza | 10-minute walk | |
| Mid-Range (£130–£230/night) | NH Collection Guadalajara Centro Histórico | 5-minute walk |
| Hotel Morales Historical & Colonial | 5-minute walk | |
| Hotel de Mendoza | 10-minute walk | |
| Luxury (> £300/night) | Casa Habita | 15-minute drive |
| Villa Ganz Boutique Hotel | 15-minute drive | |
| Hotel Demetria | 20-minute drive |
If you are staying for a longer period of time or you are travelling as part of a group, you could consider booking an Airbnb or a short-term rental. For all stays, ensure you book early to avoid price surges as the World Cup draws closer and demand for accommodation skyrockets.
How to get to city (city centre)
If you're flying from the UK, the easiest route to Guadalajara is via a connecting flight through Mexico City or another major hub like Dallas, Houston, or Madrid. There are no direct flights from London to Guadalajara, but once you land at Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport (GDL), reaching the city centre is simple. Airport taxis and rideshare apps like Uber and Didi are readily available and offer door-to-door service.
For budget-friendly travel, local buses and the Mi Macro Periférico transit system connect the airport to various parts of the city, though they can be crowded during peak hours. Driving is an option too, but traffic in Guadalajara can be unpredictable, especially on matchdays, so public transport or rideshare is often the better choice.
Travel information between connected cities
Guadalajara is part of the Central Region, which includes Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. Flying between these host cities is the quickest and easiest way to move around the Central Region, and flights are frequent and affordable, especially via Aeroméxico, Volaris and Viva Aerobus.
Travelling between the American host cities, including Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City is simple by train, as all of them are connected by the United States' main trainline, Amtrak. The train journeys can be long, but Amtrak trains are very comfortable and often have scenic views as you travel. Mexico's rail service is limited, so there is no service between the USA and Mexico, and it is difficult to travel around Mexico via the train, with locals often preferring to fly or drive between cities.
Long-distance buses are also a popular and cheaper alternative if you want to travel around the central region, and they offer comfortable seating and scenic views as you travel, but they take much longer than flying or taking the train.
You do also have the option of going on a road trip, but they do tend to be quite time-consuming, as you can see below:
| Route | Distance (miles / km) | Driving Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City → Monterrey | 566 mi / 912 km | 9–10 hours |
| Mexico City → Guadalajara | 340 mi / 547 km | 6–7 hours |
| Mexico City → Dallas | 930 mi / 1,500 km | 16–18 hours |
| Mexico City → Houston | 890 mi / 1,430 km | 15–17 hours |
| Mexico City → Kansas City | 1,370 mi / 2,205 km | 22–24 hours |
| Monterrey → Guadalajara | 430 mi / 690 km | 7–8 hours |
| Monterrey → Dallas | 580 mi / 933 km | 9–10 hours |
| Monterrey → Houston | 510 mi / 820 km | 8–9 hours |
| Monterrey → Kansas City | 1,030 mi / 1,660 km | 17–19 hours |
| Guadalajara → Dallas | 1,050 mi / 1,690 km | 17–19 hours |
| Guadalajara → Houston | 980 mi / 1,575 km | 16–18 hours |
| Guadalajara → Kansas City | 1,400 mi / 2,255 km | 23–25 hours |
| Dallas → Houston | 240 mi / 385 km | 3.5–4.5 hours |
| Dallas → Kansas City | 510 mi / 820 km | 7.5–8.5 hours |
| Houston → Kansas City | 740 mi / 1,190 km | 11–12 hours |
Football history in the city
Football first arrived in Guadalajara in the early 1900s, arriving from across the Atlantic Ocean with Belgian and French Merchants. As the local population began to fall in love with the game, Unión Football Club were founded. Now officially known as Club Deportivo Guadalajara or Chivas for short, the club initially allowed both local and foreign players to play for the club. However, in 1943, to align the club with national pride, Chivas decided to only allow Mexican-born players to play, a tradition which is still largely upheld today.
Chivas are undoubtedly Guadalajara's most successful club and are one of the most decorated in Mexico, winning 12 league championships. The 1950s and 60s saw Chivas dominate the league, earning the nickname "Campeonísimo", loosely translated as "The Ultimate Champion", for their consistent success.
The club is also well known for its conveyor belt of legendary Mexican players, producing the likes of Salvador Reyes, Ramón Ramírez, Omar Bravo, Carlos Salcido, and ex-Manchester United star Javier "Chicharito" Hernández.
Having previously hosted World Cup games in 1970 and 1986, the competition will return to the city in 2026, hosting 4 group stage games at Estadio Akron, continuing its legacy as a global football city.
World Cup 2026 Venue in Guadalajara
| Stadium | Capacity | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Estadio Akron | 48,071 | Group Stage |
Other World Cup 2026 Venues in Mexico
| City | Stadium | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | Opening Match, Quarter-final |
| Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | Group Stage |
World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams
| Pot 1 (Top Seeds) | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Croatia | Scotland | Ghana |
| Argentina | Morocco | Egypt | Cabo Verde |
| France | Uruguay | Tunisia | South Africa |
| England | Colombia | Algeria | Curaçao |
| Portugal | Japan | Ivory Coast | Haiti |
| Netherlands | Senegal | Saudi Arabia | Panama |
| Brazil | South Korea | Qatar | UEFA Playoff (Path A) |
| Belgium | Iran | Australia | UEFA Playoff (Path B) |
| Germany | Switzerland | Uzbekistan | UEFA Playoff (Path C) |
| United States (Host) | Austria | Jordan | UEFA Playoff (Path D) |
| Mexico (Host) | Norway | Paraguay | Inter-Confed Playoff 1 |
| Canada (Host) | Ecuador | Venezuela | Inter-Confed Playoff 2 |