How is this different from the regular SportCation Index?

It is the regular SportCation Index, the Spring/Summer 2026 edition specifically. This page does not compute a separate WC only composite. What is WC specific is the lens: we present the Index alongside two WC specific overlays (confirmed WC + MLB trip counts, and WC match weekend hotel rates) so a traveler can see both the year round trip viability picture and the World Cup specific picture in one place.

Why only MLB overlap in the Trips column and not other sports?

MLB's 162 game season means teams play nearly every day during the June 11 – July 19 tournament window. That creates the densest possible overlap with World Cup match dates. NBA and NHL seasons end before the World Cup starts. NFL preseason does not begin until late July. MLS overlaps but has a thinner home schedule; it is counted in the Index's Game Density pillar but not broken out as a separate Trips column.

Are Atlanta and Vancouver in the ranking?

Yes, both are in the SportCation Index with ranked: true and every metric at measured confidence. Atlanta scores 62.2 ( 6); Vancouver scores 53.7 ( 11). Earlier drafts of the ranked table labeled them as "not yet scored", that was incorrect and has been fixed. The ranked table page now shows all 13 U.S. and Canadian host cities.

Search Trips Destinations Teams Stacks Blog WC26 Index

Methodology Report

How We Ranked the Best 2026 World Cup Cities for Sports Travelers

Data sources and scoring rules behind the SportCation 2026 World Cup host-city ranking, the Spring/Summer 2026 SportCation Index composite, applied through a World Cup trip-planning lens, with worked examples for Toronto and Dallas using real pillar subscores.

Introduction

The Four Pillars

Our quantitative metrics for city evaluation on a 100-point scale.

Is the Energy Factor part of the scoring?

Yes, Energy Factor is one of the four pillars (10 points), measuring fan-institution density: venues, bars, and sports-district clusters around the main venue cluster. It is a measured metric, not subjective. The pillar table above shows exactly how it is weighted.

10 ptsPriority Weight

Scoring Weights

The SportCation Index scores every city on a 100-point scale. Game Density remains the “Anchor Variable” at 40 points.

Game Density40 pts

Travel Ease30 pts

Weekend Cost20 pts

Energy Factor10 pts

100Score Cap

See the live World Cup host-city rankings

Methodology applied — see the current scoreboard.

Open the World Cup hub →