As anticipation builds for football's ultimate global event, two travel enthusiasts have embarked on a unique challenge to ensure they won't miss a single moment.The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicks off on June 11, with 16 cities across Mexico, Canada and the United States playing host to 48 teams in what will be the biggest tournament in the competition's history.Ahead of the first of three opening ceremonies, travel experts Nicky Kelvin and Liam Spencer from The Points Guy were set a challenge unlike any other.In just seven days, they were tasked with reaching all 16 World Cup stadiums across North America before finishing at MetLife Stadium in New York, the venue that will host the World Cup final on July 19. The catch? They were required to race solo - and in opposite directions. While Liam headed north, Nicky travelled south, with both men only allowed to book their next flight after physically arriving at a stadium. There would be no advance planning, no carefully curated itinerary and no safety net if things went wrong. The rules were rigid, yet simple: they had to use at least four different airlines, take at least one train journey, and capture a selfie at every stadium along their route. Nicky Kelvin (left) and Liam Spencer (right) from The Points Guy recently completed the challenge of visiting every World Cup 2026 stadium across North America in just one week In a video uploaded to YouTube on 5 June, the pair documented their coast-to-coast adventure, racing across three countries on a combination of planes and trains while navigating delayed departures, tight connections and travel hiccups along the way.They also highlighted the realities of rail travel compared to flying, as well as their experiences in economy, premium economy and business, ultimately discovering which mode of transport is best for covering a total distance of around 4,500km.Starting in Los Angeles, Liam's route would take him through the western United States, Canada and the Midwest before eventually reaching New York and New Jersey. His journey began on 2 March with a 1.40pm Delta Air Lines flight to San Jose, before continuing north to Seattle with Alaska Airlines the following day. From there, he took his first rail route on 4 June, boarding an Amtrak service from Seattle to Vancouver - two cities that are set to play host to the World Cup over the summer. It was here Liam was handed a boarding card and a declaration slip to complete to allow him entry into Canada, though he encountered no issues and soon settled into his seat in business class. After crossing into Canada, Liam headed south once more, flying from Vancouver to Dallas-Fort Worth with American Airlines before continuing on to Kansas City on 5 March.While leaving Canada, he encouraged viewers to apply for a TSA PreCheck pass, which he used at almost every point of his North American journey. The pair were tasked with travelling in opposite directions from Canada and Mexico into the United States, taking a selfie at each of the 16 hosting stadiums along the way Liam (pictured at BC Place, Vancouver) travelled through western United States, Canada and the Midwest before eventually reaching New York and New JerseyA five-year membership costs $79.95 (£59.72) and allows flyers to pass through security efficiently and spend less time packing and repacking bags, with many travellers breezing through to their gate within 10 minutes. However, at Dallas-Fort Worth, Liam was faced with an unexpectedly long PreCheck queue. After battling through the line, he was able to spend some time in the American Airlines flagship lounge before boarding his flight. The final stretch of his route took him through Detroit and Toronto with Delta, before flights on Porter Airlines and American Airlines carried him to Boston and finally Newark, a 31-minute Uber ride from MetLife Stadium.He arrived at the stadium on 7 March at 3.05pm.Meanwhile, Nicky's route headed in the opposite direction, starting with an 11.30am Aeromexico flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City on 2 March. One notable observation he made on his arrival to Mexico was the ease of immigration compared to the United States. He said: 'If you're coming here for the World Cup, there are none of those scary immigration desks behind glass. The immigration officer was super friendly and welcomed me to Mexico. This is nice.'After an overnight stay - and the minor inconvenience of a cancelled flight - Nicky travelled to Guadalajara on an Aeromexico flight, before heading to Monterrey on a Volaris flight that same afternoon. Making his way out of northern Mexico on 4 March, he crossed the border into Houston with United Airlines.Before boarding his flight, he noted: 'I must say my experience of Mexican aviation is actually very efficient. All security checkpoints, boarding processes... some of the most consistently efficient experiences I've had.'The following day, he began making his way east through Miami via American Airlines, before heading to Atlanta via Delta on 6 March.On 7 March, he finally arrived in Philadelphia (in style) at 11.30am via a Delta flight in business class. Nicky's route headed in the opposite direction, starting with a 11.30am Aeromexico flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City on 2 March. He's pictured at Philadelphia StadiumAlthough Nicky failed to complete the rail portion of the challenge, he still beat his competitor to the final destination.Plus, his route through Mexico rewarded him with effortless immigration, unmatched efficiency, and a vibrant blend of authentic Mexican and Texan culture along the way.Reflecting on his journey, he said: 'Mexican airports and airlines are so efficient, and the people are so welcoming - I wouldn't hesitate to have a bit of a Mexican moment if you are going to do some World Cup viewing.'However, he noted one downside to his entire journey, adding: 'Public transport, at least for all the ones that I went on, will be a struggle. The only place with good transport for me was Atlanta. It was very easy and quick to get to the stadium.'Liam, on the other hand, was able to experience the beauty of Canada's natural landscape along a scenic rail route, as well as the country's friendly inhabitants, and managed to avoid long queues at the airport thanks to his TSA PreCheck pass. He added: 'Places like Toronto, Seattle and Vancouver all have great public transport options - you're going to save a lot.' He did, however, warn: 'Ubers are expensive. In places like Dallas and Kansas, driving is really your only option. In those instances, try and travel with a group so you can split the cost.'Despite some logistical hurdles, both completed their journeys and arrived just minutes apart at MetLife Stadium, where the World Cup champions will be crowned on 19 July.