MS among most inconvenienced states for following 2026 World Cup, report shows. Here’s why
When it comes to watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mississippi soccer fans are among the most inconvenienced in the country, a recent report finds.
The World Cup is taking place across North America this year, starting Thursday, June 11 and ending Sunday, July 19, according to the official website.
Of the 50 U.S. states, Mississippi ranks second as one of the hardest states to follow the World Cup action from, according to a June report by Canada Sports Betting.
Here’s how watching the World Cup from Mississippi compares to other states across the country.
Why do Mississippi soccer fans have it so hard?
The two main reasons Mississippi soccer fans have it so hard when it comes to following the World Cup action is travel, according to the Canada Sports Betting report.
“Combined with a lower local Regional Price Parity index, traveling to high-cost host cities like New York or San Francisco represents a massive economic hurdle for local Mississippi wallets compared to wealthier states,” analysts said.
For fans wanting to attend live games, the travel can be exhausting since the state lacks a major international aviation hub, according to the report.
The state’s overall score is an 81.3, slightly lower than West Virginia’s 83.3 — the most inconvenienced state for World Cup fans, according to the study.
Which World Cup host stadium is nearest to South MS?
The nearest stadium hosting World Cup games is at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia — about a 388-mile drive northeast from Biloxi.
Other U.S. host cities include the following, according to the official FIFA World Cup website:
- Boston
- Dallas
- Houston
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York/New Jersey
- Philadelphia
- Seattle
- San Francisco Bay Area
Which US states are fans most inconvenienced?
These are the 10 states with the most inconvenienced world cup fans, according to the study:
1. West Virginia
2. Mississippi
3. Alabama
4. Louisiana
5. South Carolina
6. Maine
7. Arkansas
8. Kentucky
9. North Carolina
10. Ohio
How did sports betting platform conduct study?
Canada Sports Betting analyzed data based on the following three categories: inconvenience points based on time zones, financial penalty based on purchasing power for local currency and travel burden based on distance, according to the report.
