Few trips match the buzz of following your team to another continent, surrounded by tens of thousands of fans singing in a dozen languages.
2027 is a big year for it. Brazil hosts the FIFA Women's World Cup, the Tour de France starts in Scotland, and Australia and southern Africa stage the men's Rugby and Cricket World Cups within weeks of each other. Without a plan, though, a sports trip gets expensive fast: rooms in host cities sell out, flights jump once fixtures are known, and fake tickets circulate. This guide covers the dates, how to buy tickets safely, where to stay and how to move between cities.
The 2027 calendar
| Event | Dates | Where | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA Women's World Cup | 24 Jun–25 Jul | 8 cities in Brazil | To be confirmed |
| Tour de France | 2–25 Jul | Edinburgh to Paris | Paris |
| Rugby World Cup | 1 Oct–13 Nov | 7 cities in Australia | Sydney |
| Cricket World Cup | 2 Oct–21 Nov | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia | To be confirmed |
Always confirm dates and venues on the official tournament websites before booking anything non-refundable. Schedules are sometimes adjusted.
FIFA Women's World Cup: Brazil
The 32-team tournament will be played in eight host cities, all of which staged matches at the 2014 men's World Cup: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife, Fortaleza and Porto Alegre. Rio's Maracanã is one of the most famous stadiums in the world.
Brazil is huge. Moving from Porto Alegre in the south to Fortaleza in the north-east is a three-to-four-hour flight, so plan to follow your team by air, not road. June and July are winter in Brazil: mild in Rio, warm in the north-east, and genuinely cool at night in Porto Alegre.
Tour de France: from Edinburgh to Paris
The 2027 Tour starts in Edinburgh on Friday 2 July, with a first stage to Carlisle. It then crosses northern England and Wales before reaching Cardiff and heading to France, finishing in Paris on 25 July. The women's Tour de France Femmes starts in Leeds on 30 July.
Watching the Tour is free. Fans line the road for hours, and the best spots are on the climbs, where riders pass slowly enough to see.
- In the UK: the opening stages pass through cities with good rail links, so you can watch a start or finish and be back in your hotel by evening
- In the mountains: campervan spots on famous climbs fill up days before the race arrives
- In Paris: the final stage draws enormous crowds; arrive early and expect long security queues
Rugby World Cup: Australia
The expanded 24-team tournament runs from 1 October to 13 November across seven host cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle and Townsville. Perth hosts the opening match and Sydney the final, at Stadium Australia.
Sydney hosts the most knockout matches, including both semi-finals and the final, so it is the city to book first. Hotels close to Sydney Olympic Park sell out quickly. Suburbs to the west, such as Parramatta, are closer to the stadium than the city centre, and often cheaper.
- Between cities: Australia is vast; Perth to Sydney is a five-hour flight, so allow for domestic airfares in your budget
- Weather: October and November are spring, warm in Brisbane and Townsville, mild in Melbourne
Cricket World Cup: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia
The 50-over World Cup runs from 2 October to 21 November, with 14 teams. South Africa hosts most of the matches at eight grounds, including Newlands in Cape Town, the Wanderers in Johannesburg and Kingsmead in Durban. Zimbabwe has three venues, including Victoria Falls, and Namibia one, in Windhoek.
A match at Newlands, with mountains rising behind the stands, is a highlight of any cricket fan's life. Combine it with a few days on the Garden Route or a safari, and you have one of the best sports trips of the year.
Make it more than the match
The best sports trips are half sport, half holiday. Use the days between games to see the country.
- Women's World Cup: pair Rio de Janeiro with a few days on Ilha Grande, a car-free island of forest and beaches, or fly to Foz do Iguaçu for the waterfalls on the Argentine border.
- Tour de France: follow the race through the Lake District or the Welsh hills, then take the train to France for a mountain stage in the Alps or Pyrenees.
- Rugby World Cup: add the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, near Townsville, or a weekend of wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, near Newcastle.
- Cricket World Cup: drive the Garden Route from Cape Town, see Victoria Falls between matches in Zimbabwe, or book a safari in Kruger National Park.
Plan rest days as well. Long journeys, late kick-offs and celebrating take their toll, and a quiet day keeps you fresh for the next match.
Buying tickets safely
The golden rule: only buy tickets through the official tournament channels. Each governing body, including FIFA, World Rugby and the ICC, runs its own system.
- Register early on the official tournament site for ticket alerts. Sales often open in phases, sometimes with ballots for the most popular matches.
- Consider team-follow tickets if you want to see your country wherever it plays. Some tournaments offer them.
- Look at official hospitality packages if general tickets sell out. They cost more but include guaranteed seats and are fully legitimate.
- Use the official resale platform if you miss out. It is the only safe place to buy spare tickets from other fans.
Rooms and transport
In host cities, the cheapest rooms go the moment the fixtures are published. Book early and keep flexible.
- Book refundable rooms early, before the draw, in the cities most likely to host your team. Cancel the ones you do not need later.
- Stay along a rail line. A hotel 30–40 minutes away by train is often half the price of one near the stadium.
- Rent an apartment for a group. Four or more fans sharing an apartment usually pay much less each than for separate rooms.
- Check your match-day transport. Many host cities include free public transport with a match ticket. Read the details on your ticket before buying a travel card.
A rough budget
These are rough planning estimates per person for a ten-day trip with three matches, before international flights. Costs vary with the stage of the tournament, the cities and the season.
| Event | Tickets (3 matches, US$) | 10 nights (US$) | Total on the ground (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby World Cup | 450–900 | 1,600–2,500 | 3,100–5,100 |
| Cricket World Cup | 150–400 | 800–1,400 | 1,500–2,900 |
| Women's World Cup | 200–550 | 1,100–1,900 | 2,000–3,700 |
| Tour de France | Free | 1,200–2,000 | 2,300–3,900 |
Totals include food and domestic transport. Knockout matches cost considerably more than group games.
Frequently asked questions
When do tickets go on sale?
It differs for each event, and sales usually open in several phases. Register on the official websites of FIFA, World Rugby and the ICC now, so you are notified the moment each phase opens.
Can I enjoy the atmosphere without a ticket?
Yes. Host cities usually run official fan zones with big screens, music and food. They are free or cheap and often have a better atmosphere than the stadium itself.
Do I need a visa?
Check the entry rules for your passport on each host country's official government website, well before you travel. Australia, for example, requires most visitors to get an electronic travel authority or visa before departure.
