This FIFA World Cup 2026 Group H guide is built for one goal: help you travel smarter than everyone else in a group that punishes hesitation.
Group H lives on the Southern Triangle — Atlanta, Miami, and Houston — then finishes with a sharp turn into Guadalajara. You will feel the climate shift between cities. You will feel the price spikes. And you will feel the difference between a fan who booked early and a fan who is still “waiting to see.”
The rule of this group is simple: you fly. Distances are too large to “just drive,” and matchdays are too time-sensitive to gamble on long ground travel. If you plan the flights, bases, and matchday transport first, Group H becomes one of the cleanest groups to follow.
Miami ✈️ Houston ✈️ Atlanta
You are essentially flying between the hubs of American (MIA), United (IAH), and Delta (ATL). Book early or prepare for massive surges.
Group H combines a European heavyweight, a South American tournament specialist, a high-visibility Asian power, and an underdog story that neutrals love. The football matters, but the travel behavior matters more: each fanbase changes hotel demand, ticket pricing, and where the loudest pregame energy shows up.
Precision football, huge global fan footprint, and high-demand tickets.
A compact, intense fan culture that turns pregame into a parade.
Massive global attention, plenty of traveling fans, and late-night energy.
A proud underdog story with diaspora support and a joyful matchday.
Use this schedule to choose your base city first, then lock flights second. Kickoff times are shown in the match city’s local time format as listed on this page.
| Date | Fixture | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jun 15 | Spain vs Cabo Verde | 12:00 PM ET |
| Mon, Jun 15 | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 6:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Jun 21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 12:00 PM ET |
| Sun, Jun 21 | Uruguay vs Cabo Verde | 6:00 PM ET |
| Fri, Jun 26 | Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 7:00 PM CT |
| Fri, Jun 26 | Uruguay vs Spain | 7:00 PM CT |
Group H logistics are simple but expensive: you must fly. There is no viable train or bus alternative for these distances.
Because these cities are major airline hubs, you have infinite options, but prices will spike the moment the draw is announced.
The busiest route in the South. 1h 55m flight time.
$120-250 USDConnecting the Gulf to the South. 2h flight time.
$150-300 USDOnly for the brave. 10-15 hours through swamp and forest.
$80/day + GasThe Southern Triangle cities are year-round destinations. Summer is "low season" for Miami but "peak season" for World Cup travel.
| Route | Est. Price |
|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) → Houston (IAH) | $180 - $350 |
| Atlanta (ATL) → Miami (MIA) | $130 - $280 |
| Houston (IAH) → Atlanta (ATL) | $160 - $320 |
Flight prices for June 2026 are expected to surge by 40%.
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Group H looks like four dots on a map. In real life it’s four different operating systems: Atlanta runs on airport efficiency and transit into Downtown; Miami runs on traffic timing and humidity; Houston runs on air-conditioning and distance; Guadalajara runs on neighborhood choice and matchday patience.
Airport: ATL
Airport: MIA
Airport: IAH / HOU
Airport: GDL
June weekends sell out fast in Miami and Guadalajara. Lock the “small logistics” now and keep matchweek flexible.
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Your matchday goes well when three things are true: you buy through official channels, you arrive earlier than you think you need to, and you treat stadium entry like airport security. In Group H, heat and traffic add extra friction, especially in Miami.
Pick your June 15 match first. That choice decides your base (Atlanta or Miami) and saves you a second expensive flight.
Buy for comfort in Miami. Shaded seats matter more than you think in humidity.
Treat June 26 like a fork in the road. Houston is the US convenience play; Guadalajara is the cross-border story play.
Arrive 2–3 hours early. Security lines and traffic surges are predictable in Miami and Guadalajara.
Bring a stadium hoodie. Atlanta and Houston can be cold inside even when it’s brutal outside.
Keep mobile battery margin. Screens brighten in sun and drain faster; mobile tickets demand power.
Hydrate like it’s training. If you wait until you’re thirsty, you’re already behind.
Group H is flight-heavy and cross-border. Coverage matters more here than in most groups.
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In the South, proximity to the stadium isn't always proximity to the fun. Here is where to base yourself in each city.
Strategy: The Hollywood Bypass
Strategy: The Rail Line
Strategy: Midtown Pulse
For multi-city groups, refundable bookings are your leverage. Book early, then refine.
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Group H is a pricing game. If you book in the wrong order, you pay twice: once in higher prices, and again in stress. Use this timeline as a default plan, then adjust once you know which two matchdays you’re prioritizing.
Choose Atlanta or Miami for June 15. Book refundable hotels immediately in that city and in your June 26 city (Houston or Guadalajara).
Book your key flight legs between ATL/MIA/IAH and any international arrival. The “flight skeleton” drives everything else.
Switch from “any hotel” to the right neighborhood: Midtown Atlanta, Brickell Miami, Museum District Houston, or Colonia Americana Guadalajara.
Grab day trips, tours, and airport transfers. This keeps matchweek free for football decisions and rest.
Pre-book transport where needed, plan early arrivals, and set a hydration plan for Miami and Guadalajara.
Keep one “float day” between cities where possible. A single delay is normal in tournament travel.
Group H’s atmosphere is shaped by contrast: European neutrals in Atlanta, South American intensity in Miami, value-hunters in Houston, and a Mexico matchday that feels like a festival with football attached. If you want peak energy, follow the fanbases — not the map.
Atlanta draws neutrals because it’s easy to fly into and easy to move around Downtown. Expect a mixed crowd with spikes of Spain support on both Atlanta matchdays.
Miami turns matchday into an all-day event. The Uruguay crowd can tilt the stadium emotionally, and humidity makes everything feel more intense. Hydrate early, not late.
Houston is where you find the best seat-to-cost ratio in the group. The city is built for events, and the stadium comfort level is elite. Plan your METRORail route and you’re set.
Guadalajara adds the cross-border layer and the Mexico stadium culture. The June 26 match is the headline for neutrals who want one unforgettable day — but only if you arrive early and stay patient.
Estimates are per person for a 12-day trip covering 3 group matches. The South is cheaper than the Northeast, but flight costs are mandatory.
Suburban hotels, low-cost carriers (Spirit/Frontier), grocery meals, Cat 3 tickets.
Downtown/Midtown hotels, major airlines (Delta/United), BBQ & Tacos, Cat 2 tickets.
Luxury suites in Brickell & Buckhead, First Class flights, private transport, Cat 1 hospitality.
MARTA is your Friend: In Atlanta, the train from the airport to downtown is $2.50. An Uber will be $50+ and take twice as long.
Houston Tunnel System: Use the 6-mile underground tunnel system in Downtown Houston to move between hotels and food without hitting the 100°F heat.
Tri-Rail / Brightline: In Miami, don't Uber from the airport to the stadium area. Use the Tri-Rail or Brightline trains to save $60+.
While it's 100°F outside, US stadiums (especially NRG and Mercedes-Benz) are kept at a frigid 68°F. You will actually need a light hoodie for the stadium, even if you're sweating in the parking lot.
Atlanta's traffic is legendary. If you are staying in Buckhead and the match is at 7 PM, leave by 3:30 PM. The I-75/85 connector can come to a full stop for no reason at any time.
Miami = Cuban/Caribbean. Houston = Tex-Mex & BBQ. Atlanta = Southern/Trap. Eat like a local to save money and enjoy the culture.
In Miami and Houston, a massive thunderstorm occurs almost every afternoon at 4 PM for exactly 30 minutes. Do not panic; it will pass, but it will make the humidity even worse.
June weather swings from outdoor heat to stadium air-conditioning. Pack for both.
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From the neon pulse of Miami to the Texan scale of Houston, Group H is a test of endurance. Start planning your logistics now.