FIFA 2026 USA

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. The second time, after Brazil in 2014. There was quite an euphoria about that. So I got sucked into it and bought a ticket for one game: Bosnia vs Qatar in Seattle. I took my nephew Edin with me and bought one ticket for him as a birthday gift (400$).

Now we had to plan the rest of the trip. Both of us had a problem getting a vacation, but we managed somehow. Next were flight tickets, which we took too late, and prices went up. The best option was a flight over Iceland from Munich (602€). I already had ESTA (36€) for the USA from a trip to Miami, but he had to create one. It was similar for ETA (4.5€) in Canada, as we planned to visit Vancouver, but in the end it didn’t happen. We took CORIS (I had yearly from before and 10 days valid we bought for Edin, 29€) insurance and Flixbus to Munich, and we were ready.

Daily review

• Ljubljana to Munchen
• Munchen over Reykjavik to Seattle
• Seattle
• Seattle, no Vancouver
• Seattle again
• Game BiH vs Qatar
• Return from Seattle
• Iceland
• Munchen to Ljubljana

People

Main point of this trip was spending some quality time with Edin. Friends from Iceland and Seattle were on vacation, so we missed each other. Random people we met were OK. In the USA (airport, restaurant, island, baseball game, bus, ferry …), random people would recognize us as tourists and engage in conversation with us. Also, LGBTQ community is strong, so they are inclusive in city. But one can see many homeless and drug addicts in the street. Bosnian fans in Seattle were great (Aida-world traveler). Also met some Montenegrians. At Subway in Iceland at the counter, they wouldn’t sell us water as it is just tap water.

Tranport

On this trip we were quite static. Big movment in begining and in the end. In between mainly in Seattle (bus/train or walking – 100+ km)

Airplane

For flights with Icelandair Munich-Reykjavik-Seattle and back, I paid 602€. It was the best option as we bought tickets late. It meant an extra bus ride to Munich. But we saved 500€ for two people in comparison to other flights.

First flight on A320 CEO was basic (just water, no multimedia, no charger), but we got a seat in the emergency exit row (great leg-space). On our second flight (B737-8), we had 3 seats for 2 of us; you needed your own headphones, and got some water. On return, we didn’t have the same luck. On a long flight, a lady in front completely leaned back, but I survived somehow. On the second flight, again we had 3 seats for 2 of us.

The airport in Munich was quite dull (highlight was a dog toilet), and we spent almost 4 hours there on our way to the USA. From the city, you can access it with train S8 (24/7). Reykjavik (Keflavik) is a nice small airport. On our way to the USA, we had a short time between flights and a long line at passport control, but we managed to be at the gate before boarding. On return, we had 10 hours, so we rented a car. Seattle-Tacoma airport (50 MIO passengers yearly) was OK; train to the city for 3$.

Bus

Flixbus ride to and from Munich (25 and 29€ for tickets). In Seattle we used bus/trolly few times, 3$ per ride. On Bainbridge Island, the bus to Japanese Memorial was 2$ per person.

Car/Ren a car

We started and ended the trip with a car ride; sister drove us to/from the bus station in Ljubljana. On Bainbridge Island, one nice lady drove us back to town. In Iceland, we rented a car (KIA Picanto). Costs amounted to 200€ with rent, insurance, road tax, and gasoline. If I had done it prior to arrival, it would be cheaper (I didn’t have a physical credit card).

Train

In Munich, we took a train from the bus station to the airport and back. We paid for a ticket for 10.5€, but I think it was the wrong one (15€). Similar in Seattle, train from/to airport, 3$. Also, we used the Monorail there, 4$.

Boat

To Bainbridge Island we took a ferry ride (40min), 11.3$ for both ways.

Accomodation

We slept in an American hotel hostel for 5 night, bunk bed was 65€ per night. It was expensive because of the World Cup; not many options, good service for a hostel (community room, breakfast, towels, lock and lockers). One night we spent on the bus and two nights on an airplane.

Food and drinks

Start with 3 homemade sandwiches for the first day. Other meals included: 2 burger meals (40$), breakfast in hostel (toast, fruit, jam, butter; included), pad kee mao and burger (33$), chicken (40$), pizza (79$), hot dog (25$), chowder and calamari (40$), wings and burger (55$), smoked rib (120$), nuggets (30€), Mc (30€). All prices are for 2 people. As you can see, we ate mostly fast/street food and a few real meals.

Water was usually free (in shop 4$), airport coffee 4.5-9$, juice and Coke 3.5-7$, beer 11-19$, cocktail 20$.

Sights

In Seattle, you can walk around exploring Chinatown, Pioneer Square, Kondike museum (free), Waterfront, Pike Market, Gum Wall, downtown up to Space Needle (nice views, 35$ two 2 days before visit).

For a short trip, you can visit Bainbridge Island with a ferry (Japanese memorial 2$ for bus, Pia Troll, Japanese garden, town, all for free). Seattle is called the Emerald City because of all the green areas in and around the city. In the north part, there is a nice hill with a park, botanical garden, and Lakeview Cemetary with Bruce Lee’s grave. We visited FIFA World Cup game (400$) and a baseball game (49$)

I was in Iceland before. During this long layover, we just visited the Strokkur geyser and Gullfoss waterfall

Budget

This trip was quite expensive because it was in the USA during the World Cup. The highest cost was transportation with flights, renting a car, bus and train rides (800€). The price of tickets amounted to 425€. Food and drinks were around 400€ per person. Accommodation was 325€ per person even though we slept in a hostel for 5 nights and 3 nights on transportation. Misc like souvenirs and cigarettes were around 100 €. So total would be a bit more than 2000€ per person.

Visa and telecommunication

We needed ESTA for the USA for 36€ and ETA for Canada for (didn’t go to Canada) for 4€. For Austria, Germany, and Iceland, we didn’t need anything (Europe).

For the internet, I bought an eSIM for the USA (20€, unlimited data, working OK) and for Iceland, 4€, but it didn’t work.