With the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament coming to the US in June, host cities are expecting an influx of international travelers. Mobile carriers are offering ways to help them stay connected during the games.
Three of the largest US carriers have recently introduced eSIM plans that can be activated on unlocked phones for between seven and 45 days of calling, texting and mobile data. Using an eSIM while traveling is often more affordable than international roaming charges with an out-of-country wireless service.
If you have family or friends traveling to the US for the World Cup (or for any reason), here are three options they can check out. Remember that pricing matters, but so do the strengths of each provider’s network in the areas where they’ll be. It’s worth scrutinizing the coverage maps for AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.
And if you’re thinking of jetting off to a country outside the US, be sure to check out our guide to the best travel phone plans.
eSIM by AT&T
AT&T’s offering includes unlimited data and 5GB of hotspot access for up to 30 days of coverage.
Pricing for the eSIM by AT&T plan breaks down like this:
- 1-Day Pass: $4 (US only)
- 7-Day Pass: $16 (US), $25 (US, Canada, Mexico)
- 15-Day Pass: $26 (US), $40 (US, Canada, Mexico)
- 30-Day Pass: $41 (US), $60 (US, Canada, Mexico)
Taxes and fees aren’t included in the cost of each pass.
One important detail is worth noting: The AT&T eSIM is a data-only plan, so calling and SMS texting aren’t included, and the subscriber won’t get a new number. Apps such as WhatsApp can offer those features. AT&T says the plan will expand to unlimited talk and text soon, but a timeline has not been announced.
Getting connected requires that the person download the Connect on Demand by AT&T app (for iOS or Android) on an unlocked 5G smartphone with an international phone number and an open eSIM slot, then purchase and activate the eSIM option within the app.
The company’s Turbo Live by AT&T service, which is supposed to improve connectivity in venues like sports stadiums, is also available as an add-on.
T-Mobile Prepaid US Pass eSIM
The T-Mobile Prepaid US Pass eSIM options include unlimited talk and text in the US, Canada and Mexico, as well as 50GB of high-speed 5G data, then unlimited data at a slower speed for the duration of the pass. They also include 5GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico. Fast mobile hotspot data amounts increase depending on which of the following plans are activated:
- 7-Day Pass: $25 (14GB hotspot data)
- 10-Day Pass: $30 (20GB hotspot data)
- 14-Day Pass: $35 (28GB hotspot data)
- 30-Day Pass: $50 (50 GB hotspot data)
Activation happens in the T-Mobile Prepaid eSIM app for iOS or Android. Taxes and fees are added to the cost of each pass.
Visible eSIM Travel Pass
Visible, Verizon’s prepaid arm, is offering a new Visible eSIM Travel Pass for the World Cup. The plans include unlimited high-speed data using Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network, but there’s no hotspot data. When traveling in Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, subscribers get unlimited talk and text, and 2GB of data each day.
Preordering through June 10 (the day before the tournament kicks off) will save $10 on the lineup of passes with the code FIFA10:
- 7-Day Pass: $15 preorder ($25 regular), 90 minutes of international calling
- 14-Day Pass: $25 preorder ($35 regular), 180 minutes of international calling
- 30-Day Pass: $35 preorder ($45 regular), 300 minutes of international calling
- 45-Day Pass: $45 preorder ($55 regular), 500 minutes of international calling
Each pass also includes unlimited texting to 200+ countries. Taxes and fees are included in the price of each pass.
To fuel World Cup fervor among Visible’s existing customers, it’s giving away two World Cup match tickets through May 31 via a sweepstakes.
