The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest one ever 48 teams, 104 matches, and 11 host cities across the United States. From MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Irish fans are booking flights, hotels and match tickets in their thousands.
And in all that excitement, there’s one thing a lot of people leave until the last minute (or skip entirely) travel insurance.
Here’s the thing a trip to the USA is not the same as a trip to Spain or Portugal. The medical bills, the cancellation risk, the sheer cost of getting home if something goes wrong it’s a different game so before you pack the jersey and print your tickets, here’s what you actually need to know about travel insurance for the USA from Ireland and how Peopl Insurance can help you get covered before you fly.
Why is travel insurance essential for a trip to the USA?
Two words: medical bills.
The United States has some of the most expensive healthcare in the world, and as an Irish visitor, you’re not entitled to anything for free. There’s no public healthcare system to fall back on, and your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is useless once you cross the Atlantic.
To put that into real numbers:
- A simple ambulance ride can cost upwards of €1,000
- A basic emergency room visit runs anywhere from $700 to $3,000
- A three-day hospital stay can easily hit $30,000
- A serious incident a heart attack, a serious injury, a medical evacuation home can run well over $100,000
A pulled hamstring at the match isn’t likely to bankrupt you. But a bad fall on the way back to the hotel, a sudden illness, or an accident at a stadium tailgate could leave you facing a bill that takes years to clear. Travel insurance is the difference between a story you tell your mates down the pub and a financial headache that follows your home
Does my EHIC cover me in the USA?
No. The EHIC (and its replacement, the GHIC) only covers you for state-provided medical care in EU and EEA countries plus Switzerland. The USA isn’t on that list.
That means even a routine GP visit in New York or Dallas comes out of your own pocket unless you’ve got proper travel insurance in place before you fly.
How to choose the right travel insurance for the USA from Ireland?
A quick checklist before you buy:
- Make sure your policy explicitly includes USA cover (some Europe-only policies are cheaper but useless for this trip)
- Check the medical cover limit is high enough at least several million euro for a US trip
- Confirm cancellation and curtailment limits match what your trip is costing you
- Read the excess the amount you’d pay before a claim kick in
- Look at age limits Peopl has no upper age limit, which matters if you’re travelling with parents or older relatives
- Check family terms cover up to six kids free under one policy, which adds up fast for family trips
- Buy your insurance as soon as you book, not the night before you fly. Cancellation cover only protects you from the moment the policy starts
What should a USA travel insurance policy cover?
Not all travel insurance is created equal, and a budget Europe policy won’t cut it for a US trip. Here’s what to look for:
- Emergency medical cover and repatriation – This is the big one. You want generous medical limits, plus cover for getting you home safely if you can’t fly commercially. Peopl’s travel insurance, arranged through MAWDY, includes emergency medical cover with 24/7 support exactly what you need when you’re 5,000 km from home and don’t know which hospital to call.
- Cancellation cover – World Cup trips aren’t cheap. Match tickets, transatlantic flights, hotels in host cities you’re easily looking at thousands of euros locked in before you’ve even packed. If something happens before you fly illness, family emergency, a covered reason cancellation cover protects the money you’ve already spent.
- Curtailment cover – If you must cut your trip short and come home early, this covers the unused portion of your trip. Useful if a family emergency back home pulls you off the bleachers and onto the next flight.
- Travel delay – Transatlantic flights get delayed. If your transport is delayed by 12 hours or more, you can be reimbursed and that’s not just flights, it covers ferries, trains and buses too.
- Lost or stolen baggage – big crowds, busy stadiums, packed hotel lobbies opportunities for things to go missing add up fast. Personal belongings cover means you’re not paying twice for the same gear.
- Car excess cover – Renting a car to drive between host cities? US rental insurance excesses are eye-watering. Add-on cover for the excess saves you a fortune if anything happens to the rental.
Sort your travel insurance before you fly single trip if it’s a one-off, multi-trip if you’re going more than once this year and focus on the football. Need a hand choosing? Talk to the Peopl Insurance team on 0818 121 121 or email insurance@peopl.ie.
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FAQs
- Do I need travel insurance to travel from Ireland to the USA?
Yes, it’s important. While it’s not a legal requirement, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs strongly recommends it with no EHIC cover in the USA, even a routine medical issue can leave you with a bill running into thousands.
- How much travel insurance cover do I need for a trip to the USA?
For a USA trip from Ireland, aim for a comprehensive policy with at least €10 million in emergency medical cover. US healthcare costs are among the highest in the world, so a generous medical limit is essential.
- When should I buy travel insurance for my USA trip?
As soon as you book your flights or pay your first deposit, ideally within 7 to 14 days. Early cover protects you against cancellation costs if illness or an unexpected event stops you travelling before you fly.
