World Cup fans turn to budget travel hack to avoid international phone charges
World Cup fans are planning to use a simple hack to avoid being overcharged when travelling to the United States.
As football enthusiasts will know, the 2026 tournament kicks off on June 11 and runs until July 19.
Around 65,000 fans are expected to travel from the UK in the hope of seeing England or Scotland take home the trophy.
It's sure to be an expensive trip too, as flight and accommodation prices have soared in anticipation of the event.
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But if you're one of the smug few jetting off soon, don't forget about one of the most overlooked travel costs: your phone bill.
According to new data released by Holafly, fans using O2's pay-as-you-go roaming could face a whopping £84 bill for a 12-day trip, and will be capped at a measly 1GB per day - far below the 4.31GB daily average recorded during the last World Cup.
To combat the issue, travellers are turning to an international eSIM, and it could save you some serious dosh.
"Reliable connectivity is becoming a travel essential because every time we refresh a map or search for a restaurant, this can quietly pull money from the holiday budget," CMO of Dragonpass, Andrew Harrison Chinn, says.
"A major event like the World Cup shows where travel is heading, with fans increasingly needing every part of the journey to be connected and easy to manage from their phone.
"In that sense, eSIMs are revolutionary because they put us back in control before we fly, helping us to lock in data access, rather than hoping a standard roaming plan behaves kindly once we've landed in the US."
So, if you're planning to follow your team overseas, find out everything you need to know below.
Where to buy an international eSIM in the UK
According to MoneySavingExpert, the average Brit can be charged upwards of £6 per megabyte and £3 per minute when using their phone outside of Europe.
So, if you're prepping for a trip stateside, you'll need to purchase an eSIM before you jet off to dodge an unexpected bill.
Most eSIMs start from approximately £4.50 for 1GB across three days, but if you want to get the most for your money, you're best choosing an unlimited option.
For dedicated fans planning to visit multiple cities, there are World Cup eSIMs on the market that cover every host city, such as the Holafly eSIM here or the ETravelSim here.
Shop our top World Cup unlimited eSIM picks below:
United States:
- ByteSim unlimited data for 7 days: £17.80
- Sim Local unlimited data for 7 days with 4G speed: £27
- airalo unlimited data for 7 days: £28.50
North America:
- Sim Local 20GB eSIM for 31 days with 4G speed: £26
- airalo unlimited data for 7 days: £28.50
- ByteSim unlimited data for 7 days: £37.16
What is an eSIM and how does it work?
Gone are the days of having to faff around trying to squeeze a tiny SIM card into your phone.
For the unacquainted, an eSIM is a digital chip that is already built into your device.
All you need to do is choose a provider and the selected mobile plan's data will be loaded onto the phone.
You'll be able to switch between carriers in your phone's settings, depending on where you are.
Holafly: eSIM World Cup 2026
From £5.70
Can I keep my number with an eSIM?
There's no need to panic.
A data-only eSIM doesn't change or remove your existing phone number.
You'll be able to easily switch between lines in your phone's settings, depending on where you are.
If you run out of data, you can usually top it up with your chosen provider. Just make sure to switch off 'primary number' when travelling to avoid data roaming charges.
Danielle Fowler