Miami, Florida
Your Complete 2026 World Cup Guide
At a Glance
- Location
- Miami, Florida, USA
- Population
- 450,000
- Time Zone
- EDT (UTC-4)
- Stadiums
- 1 venue
- Matches Hosted
- 7 matches
- Best Way to Get Around
- Brightline 'End Zone Express' (The Pro Move)
Last Updated: by KickoffAdventures Editorial Team
Overview
Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host 7 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, including the prestigious Third Place Play-off (Bronze Final) on July 18. Miami has exploded as a soccer capital after Inter Miami CF won the 2024 Supporters' Shield (best regular season record), bringing global attention to the city's football culture with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez leading the charge.
Key Reality Check: The stadium is 18 miles from South Beach in suburban Miami Gardens. You must plan your transport carefully. The Brightline 'End Zone Express' (train + shuttle combo) is the absolute best option—avoids I-95 gridlock, includes AC comfort, and costs $25-40 vs $150-250 Uber surge pricing.
⚽World Cup Stadium
Getting Around
The Miami Geography Problem: Hard Rock Stadium is NOT in Miami Beach. It is in Miami Gardens, 16-20 miles north.
Brightline 'End Zone Express' (CRITICAL): Do not just book a regular train to Aventura. You MUST look for the 'End Zone Express' icon/option when booking on gobrightline.com. This guarantees your seat on the connector shuttle to the stadium. Without this, you are stuck at Aventura Station taking a $50+ Uber.
Water Taxi Hack (Check Closer to Date): During major events, Miami sometimes runs water taxis between Downtown and South Beach. If active for World Cup, this skips causeway gridlock entirely.
Rideshare Warning: Uber/Lyft to the stadium from South Beach can easily hit $150+ one-way during surge times. Book early or use Brightline.
Where to Stay
The Great Debate: Vibe vs. Logistics.
1. The Vibe Choice (South Beach/Brickell): Stay here if you want parties, beach, and walkability. Accept that match day will involve a 90-minute commute via Brightline or expensive Uber ($150+).
2. The Smart Choice (Aventura/Ft Lauderdale): Stay here for easier stadium access, lower prices, and relaxed beach vibe. You are 20-30 mins from the stadium instead of 60-90.
3. The Budget Choice (Miami Gardens/Airport): Stay here to save money. It is ugly, industrial, and boring, but you will be close to the match.
Local Wisdom: Never wear swimsuits into restaurants unless it's a beach bar. Miami has a dress code.
Neighborhood Breakdown
South Beach (Miami Beach)
Best For
The iconic 'Miami' experience, nightlife, beach lovers, first-timers
Distance to Stadium
18 miles
Travel Time
60-90 min drive (heavy traffic)
Pros
- •World-famous Art Deco architecture and Ocean Drive
- •Walkable to beach, best nightclubs, and Lincoln Road shopping
- •The vibe everyone expects when visiting Miami
- •Huge inventory of hotels from boutique to luxury resorts
- •Free trolley system helps get around the island
Cons
- •NIGHTMARE commute to stadium (60-90 mins with traffic)
- •Extremely expensive hotels and dining
- •Crowded, loud, and chaotic 24/7
- •Flooding risk during summer storms
- •Rideshare to stadium can cost $100+ each way
Brickell / Downtown
Best For
Urbanites, foodies, luxury shoppers, public transit users
Distance to Stadium
16 miles
Travel Time
45-60 min drive or 40 min via Brightline + Shuttle
Pros
- •The 'Manhattan of the South' – skyscrapers, rooftop bars, luxury dining
- •Access to Brightline Train (MiamiCentral Station) for easier stadium access
- •Walkable, safe, and modern
- •Close to Wynwood Walls and Frost Science Museum
- •Metromover (free automated people mover) connects the area
Cons
- •Traffic within Brickell is legendary gridlock
- •Expensive (cocktails $20+, parking $50/night)
- •Far from the beach (15-20 min drive)
- •Concrete jungle vibe (not a beach vacation)
Aventura / Sunny Isles
Best For
Families, shoppers, stadium convenience
Distance to Stadium
8 miles
Travel Time
20-30 min drive
Pros
- •Closest upscale neighborhood to Hard Rock Stadium (20-30 min)
- •Home to Aventura Mall (massive luxury shopping)
- •Brightline Station (Aventura) offers 'End Zone Express' shuttles to stadium
- •Sunny Isles offers quieter, high-end beaches
- •Safe, clean, and family-friendly
Cons
- •Suburban feel (less nightlife than South Beach)
- •Heavy traffic on Biscayne Blvd
- •Less walkable (car recommended)
- •Fewer cultural attractions
Fort Lauderdale
Best For
Smart travelers, budget-conscious, beach + stadium balance
Distance to Stadium
15 miles
Travel Time
25-35 min drive
Pros
- •Often cheaper than Miami proper
- •Easier access to stadium (located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale)
- •Las Olas Blvd offers great dining and nightlife
- •Fort Lauderdale beach is less chaotic than South Beach
- •Closer to FLL Airport (often cheaper flights)
Cons
- •Not 'Miami' (different vibe, older crowd)
- •30-40 min drive to South Beach/Wynwood
- •Requires car/rideshare for most things
Miami Gardens (Stadium Area)
Best For
Strict budget travelers, single-match visitors
Distance to Stadium
1-3 miles
Travel Time
10 min drive
Pros
- •Closest to Hard Rock Stadium
- •Significantly cheaper than beach/downtown
- •Avoids worst of I-95 traffic on match day
Cons
- •Nothing to do outside the stadium
- •Not a tourist area (suburban/industrial)
- •No walkability, few restaurant options
- •Far from beach (40+ min) and nightlife
Top Things to Do
Beyond the beach, Miami is an art and culture capital. Wynwood Walls ($12) is essential for street art fans. Superblue Miami ($46) has taken over as the premier immersive art experience with mirror mazes and digital installations. Little Havana offers authentic Cuban culture—but the real question is: where do you get the best Cuban sandwich?
The Great Cuban Sandwich Wars:
- Versailles ($12): The historic classic. Go here for the atmosphere, the Hall of Mirrors, and to say you've been. It is the 'tourist essential.'
- Sanguich de Miami ($13.50): The modern champion. House-cured ham, homemade pickles, artisanal bread. This is where locals actually go for the best sandwich on Calle Ocho.
- Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop: The working-man's favorite in Wynwood. Best 'Pan con Bistec' (steak sandwich) in the city.
Nature lovers should drive 45 mins west to the Everglades ($30-50) for airboat tours. Nightlife in Miami is world-famous—E11EVEN (24/7 club) and LIV are the big names, but expect $50-100 cover charges.
Must-See Attractions
South Beach & Ocean Drive
The quintessential Miami experience. Pastel-hued Art Deco buildings, neon lights, white sand beaches, and incredible people-watching. Visit the Art Deco Welcome Center, walk Lummus Park, or grab a giant cocktail on Ocean Drive (touristy but fun).
Cost
Free (beach)
Time Needed
3-5 hours
Best Time
Late afternoon to catch sunset and neon lights turning on
How to Get There
Rideshare or drive (public transit from mainland is slow)
Wynwood Walls
An open-air museum dedicated to street art. Massive colorful murals by artists from around the globe cover the walls of former warehouses. The surrounding neighborhood is packed with hip breweries, galleries, and taco spots.
Cost
$12 adults
Time Needed
2 hours
Best Time
Early morning (cooler, better photos) or evening
How to Get There
Rideshare from Downtown/Brickell (10 min)
Superblue Miami
A massive immersive art experience directly across from the Rubell Museum. Walk through mirrored mazes, clouds of bubbles, and digital floral worlds. This is the most Instagrammable indoor spot in the city.
Cost
$46 adults
Time Needed
1.5 hours
Best Time
Weekday mornings to avoid crowds in the mirror maze
How to Get There
Rideshare to Allapattah (5 min from Wynwood)
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
A stunning Italian Renaissance-style villa on Biscayne Bay built in 1916. It feels like a European palace dropped into the tropics. The gardens are magnificent and offer a quiet escape from the party scene.
Cost
$25 adults
Time Needed
2-3 hours
Best Time
Morning (cooler for garden walks)
How to Get There
Rideshare or Metrorail to Vizcaya Station (then 10 min walk)
Little Havana (Calle Ocho)
The heart of Miami's Cuban diaspora. Visit Domino Park to watch elders play, grab a cortadito (strong coffee) at Versailles, and smoke a hand-rolled cigar. Vibrant, loud, and culturally rich.
Cost
Free
Time Needed
2-3 hours
Best Time
Daytime for coffee/dominoes, Friday nights for Viernes Culturales
How to Get There
Rideshare or Trolley from Brickell
Everglades Airboat Tour
Experience the 'River of Grass.' Just 45 minutes west of the city, take an airboat ride to see wild alligators, turtles, and birds in their natural habitat. A unique Florida ecosystem experience.
Cost
$30-50
Time Needed
4 hours (including travel)
Best Time
Morning (wildlife is more active, cooler)
How to Get There
Rental car or organized tour bus
Frost Science Museum
State-of-the-art science museum in downtown. Famous for its three-level aquarium where you can look up through an 'oculus' lens at sharks and rays swimming overhead. Great AC escape from the heat.
Cost
$30 adults
Time Needed
3 hours
Best Time
Mid-day (hottest part of the day)
How to Get There
Metromover to Museum Park station
Weather & When to Visit
High
90°F
(32°C)
Low
78°F
(26°C)
Rain
15 days/month
Humidity
80-90%
Survival Guide:
- The Rain: It rains almost every day in June/July at 3 PM. It lasts 30 minutes. Don't cancel plans, just duck inside.
- The Heat: It is a sticky, wet heat. Linen and breathable fabrics are mandatory. Bring deodorant.
- The Roof: Hard Rock Stadium's canopy covers 92% of fans. You will be shaded during the match, but tailgating in the parking lot is brutal.
- Hurricane Season: June marks the start. Monitor forecasts but don't panic—FIFA has contingency plans.
- Dress Code: Never wear swimsuits into restaurants unless it's specifically a beach bar. You will get kicked out of nice places in Brickell.
Money-Saving Tips
- Buy a $5 SunPass Mini sticker at Publix or CVS immediately upon arrival. Register it online to your rental car plate. This avoids the $25/day 'convenience fee' rental agencies charge for using their toll transponders.
- Group Rideshare Strategy: Split a $100 Uber XL with 4 people—it's often cheaper/faster than 4 Brightline tickets ($25-40 each) if you're traveling as a group.
- Eat at 'Ventanitas' (walk-up windows) for $2 coladas and $3 empanadas. This is how locals fuel up.
- Use the FREE trolley systems in Miami Beach, Brickell, and Coral Gables for local exploration.
- Stay in Fort Lauderdale or Hollywood for cheaper hotels ($150-300 vs $250-600) and easier stadium access.
- Avoid South Beach drinks (often $25+ for cocktails). Buy drinks at liquor stores or go during happy hours (4-7 PM).
- Book Brightline 'End Zone Express' tickets weeks in advance; prices triple closer to travel date.
- Many attractions are FREE or cheap: Wynwood Walls ($12), South Beach (free), Little Havana (free).
- Sanguich de Miami has the best Cuban sandwich ($13.50) for the price—skip the overpriced tourist traps.
- Water Taxi (if running): $15-30 day pass beats $60-100 Uber across the causeway during peak traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick Facts
Population
6.2 million (metro)
Time Zone
EDT (UTC-4)
Currency
USD ($)
Language
English, Spanish
Emergency
911
Major Airports
MIA - 16 mi