Canada’s men’s national soccer team just did something it has never done before: advance past the group stage of a FIFA World Cup. A 92nd-minute goal from Stephen Eustaquio against South Africa on June 28 sealed the deal, sending Les Rouges into the round of 16.
Canada had never progressed beyond the group stage of a World Cup. Now the country finds itself not just hosting the tournament but actually competing in it, which has turned out to be very good news for airlines.
A nation travels to watch its team
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, spans 16 cities and runs from June 11 to July 19. American Airlines, which was appointed as the Official North American Airline Supplier for the tournament back in April 2025, has been at the center of the response. The carrier has scheduled over a thousand extra flights to handle the influx of fans traveling between host cities and arriving from abroad.
Airlines across the region are adding thousands of additional flights and opening new routes specifically designed to connect fans with match venues. Toronto and Vancouver, two of Canada’s host cities, are experiencing particularly acute surges in inbound travel.
