The World Cup is driving a major surge in demand for intercity bus travel in several U.S. host-city markets as fans seek affordable ways to follow the tournament across multiple destinations, according to a new report from Flix North America, parent company of FlixBus and Greyhound. The report reveals passenger volumes in New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Kansas City recently reached their highest levels since January 2025.
The strongest growth is occurring on routes connecting host cities, particularly across the Northeast, where travelers can attend matches in multiple destinations without the higher cost or hassle of flying or driving. The report noted that elevated airfare, gas prices and other travel costs have prompted more fans to choose intercity bus service to get to matches, fan events and host cities throughout the tournament.
Routes from New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas and Kansas City all recorded their highest passenger-volume levels since January 2025, with the New York/New Jersey market seeing the largest increase among host-city regions.
According to the report, domestic travelers account for the vast majority of World Cup-period bookings across the network. Outside North America, travelers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, Brazil, Spain and Italy represent the largest international groups booking travel to World Cup host cities.
The New York City–Boston corridor is the most-booked World Cup route across the FlixBus and Greyhound network. Many travelers are combining multiple host cities into a single trip, driving increased demand on regional routes throughout the tournament.
“The World Cup is creating a huge moment for travel across the continent, but affordability remains a major consideration for many fans,” said Karina Frayter, head of communications at Flix North America. “We’re seeing travelers increasingly prioritize options that offer both value and convenience, helping drive record demand for FlixBus and Greyhound service in several host-city markets across our network.”
The report adds that the trend reflects broader changes in travel behavior in North America beyond the tournament, with demand for intercity bus travel steadily growing over the past year.
