Estimates suggest 80,000 to 120,000 Colombians will travel to the 2026 FIFA World Cup venues in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, according to Littio projections. The Colombia vs. Portugal match in Miami is the most sought-after, with over 500 million global ticket requests. Travel reservations have risen 55% from the previous year.
Littio estimates 80,000 to 120,000 Colombians will attend the tournament, drawing from Migración Colombia data, Anato, travel platforms, and the 36,000 who went to Russia 2018. This figure includes the over 1.2 million Colombian diaspora in the United States.
Reservations to host cities rose 55%, with up to 195% increases from Medellín, per Viajes Falabella. Flight searches to Miami tripled and to Mexico City multiplied sevenfold after the group draw, according to Kayak and Despegar.
The World Cup starts June 11 with 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities. Tickets for Colombia games range from US$60 to US$700, but resale for Colombia vs. Portugal reaches US$78,563 in category 1, Littio reports. An average traveler needs $12-20 million COP for two or three matches.
"Thousands of families are allocating a significant part of their budget to this trip, and the difference between those who plan how to manage their money and those who improvise can be up to one million pesos per person," said Christian Knudsen, Littio's CEO. Around 30,000 to 50,000 Colombians are projected to secure tickets. Knudsen warned of hidden 3-8% margins on currency conversions by international platforms.
