Trung Nghia
From June 11 to July 19, 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will host World Cup matches. Fly direct from Ho Chi Minh City to San Francisco for an unforgettable summer.
Since I’m always racing against time, the direct Ho Chi Minh City-San Francisco route operated by Vietnam Airlines is a convenient choice, significantly shortening the journey to the US. This will allow me to quickly dive into this summer’s biggest football event – the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first World Cup ever to be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Departing from Ho Chi Minh City, the first stop on my 2026 FIFA World Cup journey is San Francisco, one of the defining cultural, financial, and technological centers of America’s West Coast. From there, fans can travel to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, where the San Francisco Bay Area will host six matches during the tournament, including five group-stage fixtures – Qatar vs. Switzerland, Austria vs. Jordan, Turkey vs. Paraguay, Jordan vs. Algeria, and Paraguay vs. Australia – along with one Round of 32 fixture.
Before the games start by San Francisco Bay
Founded in 1776, San Francisco covers 121 square kilometers and has a population of nearly 900,000, including a large Vietnamese community. Each year, the city welcomes more than 23 million visitors, and local tourism officials hope this summer’s tournament will provide a much-needed boost following a difficult period.
Built across rolling hills and often shrouded in drifting fog, the city boasts romantic scenery that charms visitors. I am especially eager to revisit the Golden Gate Bridge. Only by seeing it in person can one understand why this orange-red span is considered an architectural icon and the city’s most famous landmark.
A great way to explore downtown is by cable car, an iconic mode of transport dating back to the 19th century. San Francisco also features peaceful, poetic parks and residential neighborhoods with diverse architectural styles.
While waiting for football matches, take time to visit San Francisco City Hall, inaugurated in 1915, or head to Twin Peaks for sweeping panoramic views over the city. You can also explore Lombard Street, famous for its steep and winding route.
When your stomach rumbles, head to the food scene on Hayes Street, enjoy seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf, explore Little Italy, or stop by one of the many Vietnamese pho shops downtown if you miss the taste of home.
A summer of great football across North America
Summer is the peak tourism season in North America. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place from June 11 to July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, fans will be immersed in a vibrant football atmosphere for over a month.
I look forward to returning to cities I have previously visited that are now part of this summer’s football journey, including Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia. I am equally excited to set foot in Mexico City for the opening match between the host nation, Mexico, and South Africa at Estadio Azteca – historically known as the Azteca Stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals.
I also admire the spirit of “Desire,” a song used in FIFA events, including the 2026 World Cup. Its melody and lyrics evoke aspiration, connection, and belief, reflecting the emotions of football journeys – crossing geographical distances to experience the atmosphere of a global sporting event. This summer, many visitors to North America dream of witnessing top-tier national football teams in action, from the group stage through to the highly dramatic knockout rounds.
If the tournament brackets unfold favorably, the quarter-finals could bring highly anticipated matchups such as France vs. Netherlands, Brazil vs. England, or, notably, Argentina vs. Portugal. The prospect of an Argentina-Portugal clash remains powerful enough to stir global excitement at the world’s biggest football festival, as it could be one of the rare remaining opportunities to see two modern icons – Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – appear together on the game’s biggest stage.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest in history, with the first edition to feature 48 participating national teams. The event is expected to welcome a record-breaking number of stadium spectators. According to Opta’s predictive model, Spain is currently rated as the most likely champion with a 17% chance, followed by France (14.1%), England (11.8%), reigning world champions Argentina (8.7%), Germany (7.1%), Portugal (6.6%), Brazil (5.6%), and the Netherlands (5.2%). The narrow margins between the leading contenders suggest a highly competitive tournament, where small differences in form and performance could shape the path to the title and promise an especially compelling World Cup.
As a devoted follower of the beautiful game, it is worth remembering that the World Cup often produces surprises that overwhelm fans’ emotions. “Dark horse” contenders capable of causing upsets on North American soil include Norway, Uruguay, Colombia, and Japan.
Vietnamese football fans have even more reason to travel to North America this summer, combining exploration with the chance to enjoy top-level football. With the direct Ho Chi Minh City-San Francisco route, Vietnam Airlines makes the journey significantly more convenient, especially for travelers looking to save time and focus on an upcoming trip filled with memorable experiences.
Trung Nghia is a Vietnamese journalist with extensive experience covering the FIFA World Cup, having reported at every World Cup from 2002 to 2026. He has also covered two FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2015 and 2023, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He is the author of Duong den thanh duong World Cup (Road to the World Cup Sanctuary, published by NXB Tre), which chronicles his journalistic journey through the planet’s largest sporting event.
