Travelling to major sporting events abroad: travel money, planning and tips

Big sporting events people travel for

Fans travel all over the world for live sport. Some trips are built around a single match or final. Others follow tournaments across several cities or even countries.

Popular events include:

• Football tournaments
• Cricket world cups, major test series and franchise tournaments
• International rugby tournaments and finals
• Tennis events
• Major golf tournaments
• International motorsport events

Live sport often compresses travel, spending and logistics into a short window. Matches may fall on consecutive days or in different cities, which is why money and transport planning plays such a big role.

Planning and booking your trip

Start planning earlier than you would for a normal holiday. Major events push up demand for flights, accommodation and transport, especially near match days and finals.

Before you book, check:

• Official event dates and confirmed host locations
• Passport validity and entry requirements for where you’re going
• Whether you need a visa or travel authorisation
• How far event venues are from where you’ll be staying

Getting these basics right early helps avoid expensive changes later and reduces last‑minute stress.

It’s also worth checking how the event schedule might evolve. Knockout formats, weather delays or rescheduled matches can affect travel plans, especially if you’re following a team or athlete.

Flights and accommodation

Flights and hotels around big events sell out quickly, particularly for arrival and departure days linked to major fixtures. To keep your options open:

• Book as soon as dates are confirmed
• Be flexible with airports, routes and travel times
• Consider flying into one city and out of another
• Book refundable accommodation where possible
• Look beyond city centres but check transport links

Staying slightly further out can reduce costs, but only if transport is reliable late at night. Always check how you’ll get back after the event, including last trains or shuttle services.

If you’re following a tournament across locations, you may also need internal flights or long train journeys. Build in buffer time between connections to reduce the risk of missing events if travel is disrupted.

Tickets and budgeting

Buying tickets safely

If you’re travelling a long way, ticket security is critical.

Always buy tickets directly from the organiser or an authorised seller. Tickets from unofficial websites or social media may be cancelled, duplicated or refused at the gate.

To reduce the risk:

• Use official apps for digital tickets
• Check the name on your ticket matches your ID
• Watch for rules around reselling or transfers

Some events use dynamic QR codes or in‑app activation close to kick‑off. Make sure your phone will have enough charge and data on the day.

If the event is the main reason for your trip, taking chances with tickets isn’t worth it.

Budgeting for a sports trip abroad

Major sporting events often cost more than expected, especially around finals and headline fixtures.

Common costs include:

• Flights and local transport
• Accommodation
• Event tickets
• Food and drink
• Merchandise and souvenirs

Prices in host cities can rise quickly once fans arrive. In some countries, taxes or service charges are added at the till rather than shown upfront, and tipping may be expected.

Setting a realistic daily budget can help you pace spending across the trip. Building in a buffer for match‑day food, drinks and souvenirs can stop you overspending early on.

What’s the true cost of a goal?

New research from Post Office Travel Money highlights how goal scoring influences spending behaviour for British football fans abroad¹.

Nearly four in ten football fans (37%) say they’re more likely to spend when their team scores, with celebrations quickly fuelling extra purchases of food, drink and merchandise.

When the emotions of the game take over, the numbers add up quickly:

• £17.70 spent on celebratory drinks per goal
• £15.91 extra spent on food when fans are on a win
• £22.06 more spent on merchandise during match excitement

Overall, the estimated “cost of a goal” reaches £188 per football fan, showing how quickly match-day spending can escalate, particularly when travelling overseas and paying in different currencies.

With 42% of football fans saying the sport inspires them to travel and half having already travelled abroad to watch a game, these spending spikes are increasingly happening on holiday, where it’s easier to lose track of budgets in the heat of the action.

What currency do I need for a sporting event abroad?

Relying on one way to pay can leave you stuck in busy venues or fan zones. A mix of methods usually works best:

• Foreign currency cash for small purchases and backups
• A prepaid travel card to help manage spending and reduce risk
• A debit or credit card for higher value payments

Spreading your money across different options gives you flexibility if one method isn’t accepted, stops working or reaches a spending limit.

Read more: What’s the best card for spending abroad?

Foreign currency cash (travel money)

Cash is still useful, even in destinations where cards are widely accepted. It can help with:

• Local transport
• Food and drink from temporary stalls or fan zones
• Tips and small purchases
• Situations where card machines are slow or offline

Carrying a modest amount of cash can be reassuring on busy event days, especially in crowded areas where card terminals may struggle.

Getting foreign currency before you travel means you know the rate in advance and have money ready when you arrive, rather than relying on airport exchanges or paying overseas ATM fees.

Post Office offers a choice of over 60 currencies. You can order online or in selected branches. Some keep popular currencies in stock to take away the same day. Rates are competitive, with no commission. Online orders get our best rates. And you can collect in any branch or get home delivery.

Prepaid travel cards

A prepaid travel card, like the Post Office Travel Money Card, lets you load currencies before you go and spend abroad without linking to your main bank account.

It can help you:

• Lock in exchange rates
• Keep track of spending
• Manage money across different locations
• Freeze your card if it’s lost or stolen with our free app

Many cards allow top‑ups while you’re away, which can be useful for longer trips or multi‑city tournaments where costs are harder to predict.

Read more: What is a prepaid currency card?

Debit and credit cards

Debit and credit cards are widely accepted for hotels, transport, tickets and larger purchases. But, before you go, check if yours has:

• Foreign transaction fees
• Cash withdrawal charges
• Daily spending limits

It’s also worth telling your bank where you’re travelling to avoid your transactions being blocked.

Some cards don’t charge commission on overseas purchases, which can help keep costs down. But even if your card has low fees, it’s still wise to carry a backup payment option.

Read our tips for using a credit card

Travelling for international football in 2026

International football matches in 2026 are being hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Many fans will travel long distances between matches and cross borders in a short space of time.

Trips may involve different currencies, time zones and transport systems, sometimes within a single week.

Currencies you’ll need

Depending on where you go, you may use:

• US dollars (USD) in the United States
• Canadian dollars (CAD) in Canada
• Mexican pesos (MXN) in Mexico

Cards are widely accepted at stadiums and major venues. Cash is still useful for transport, tips and smaller vendors, especially outside central match areas or in rural locations.

If you’re moving between countries, carrying a small amount of each currency can help cover transport on arrival.

Travelling to North America

If you’re travelling to the United States, you’ll usually need an ESTA travel authorisation. And wherever you go, you’ll need a valid passport. Apply early and make sure your booking details match your passport exactly.

Check official UK government travel advice before you go.

Getting around

Host cities are widely spread, especially in the United States and Canada. You may need a mix of:

• Internal flights
• Long‑distance trains or coaches
• Hire cars in areas with limited public transport

Journey times can be longer than expected, especially on match days. Booking transport early helps keep costs down and reduces stress when schedules are tight.

Passports and safety

Passports and entry requirements

Check your passport well in advance. Many countries require it to be valid for a set period after your planned return date.

If you need a new passport or a renewal, leave plenty of time and make sure all bookings match your passport details exactly. Even small differences in names can cause problems at check‑in. We offer a Passport Check & Send service to help get your application or renewal right first time.

Safety and local disruption

Large sporting events bring extra security, policing and crowded public spaces. To reduce risk:

• Stick to official fan zones and well‑lit areas
• Follow local advice and venue rules
• Plan routes in advance, especially at night
• Avoid protests or demonstrations

Always check the UK government’s foreign travel advice for your destination before you go. It’s also worth allowing extra time to move through stations and security checkpoints, particularly before high‑profile fixtures. Flexible bookings can make a big difference if plans need to change suddenly.

Getting around and staying connected

Getting around on event days

Event venues are often outside city centres and public transport fills up fast.

• Check routes and timetables early
• Allow extra time for security checks and queues
• Look into airport transfers if you arrive on match days

Knowing how you’ll get back after the event is just as important as getting there, especially if fixtures finish late. We can help with travel extras like car hire and airport transfers.

Staying connected overseas

You’ll need mobile data for tickets, maps, updates and travel information. Using a travel eSIM, a virtual SIM card on your phone, can help you:

• Set everything up before you leave
• Access local data rates abroad
• Avoid swapping physical SIM cards

Downloading key documents, tickets and maps in advance can also be useful if networks are slow or overloaded near venues.

Event-day essentials checklist

Here’s a handy checklist of essentials to bring and things to keep in mind for event day:

• Ticket access: Have the official app installed, signed in and your tickets ready
• Phone basics: Take your charged phone, power bank and charging cable
• Offline backups: Save booking confirmations and maps to your device
• Money split: Store cash, your card and your backup card separately
• Timing: Arrive early and know your return options
• Meet‑up plan: Set a point in case your group gets split up or phones lose signal

Read our full travel packing list guide for more ideas.