England supporters heading to Atlanta for Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup semi-final have some welcome news about their flights.
Analysis by Bott and Co of more than 35,000 flights between the UK and World Cup host cities has found that Atlanta is one of the tournament’s most reliable destinations for UK travellers, with significantly lower levels of disruption than many other host cities.
For supporters already planning ahead, there’s another journey to keep in mind. The FIFA World Cup Final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, near New York, with many fans expected to travel regardless of whether England book their place in Sunday’s final.
However, our analysis found that Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the main gateways to New Jersey and New York, recorded the highest disruption rate of any World Cup host city airport, meaning supporters travelling to the final could face a greater risk of delays than those flying to Atlanta this week.
Atlanta Among the Most Reliable World Cup Destinations
Using flight performance data from EUClaim, Bott and Co analysed flights between UK airports and every World Cup host city between June 2025 and June 2026.
The study examined flights that were either cancelled or departed more than three hours late.
Atlanta recorded a disruption rate of just 1.64%, making it one of the least disrupted World Cup destinations in North America.
Most Distrupted Cities
| Destination | Disruption Rate |
|---|---|
| New York EWR | 5.32% |
| Philadelphia | 4.70% |
| Dallas | 3.87% |
| New York JFK | 3.64% |
| Houston | 2.87% |
| Mexico City | 2.65% |
| Toronto | 2.40% |
| Boston | 2.36% |
| Los Angeles | 1.94% |
| Atlanta | 1.64% |
| San Francisco | 1.60% |
| Vancouver | 1.44% |
| Seattle | 0.52% |
While Atlanta performed well, the analysis found that Newark Airport, close to the stadium the final will be played at, recorded the highest disruption rate, with more than 5% of flights experiencing cancellations or delays exceeding three hours.
Airlines Most Frequently Associated With Disruption
The analysis also identified the airlines most frequently associated with cancellations and severe delays on routes serving World Cup host cities.
American Airlines recorded the highest number of cancellations on routes to Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and Los Angeles, making it the carrier most frequently associated with cancellations among the destinations analysed. United Airlines recorded the highest number of cancellations and severe delays on services to Newark, the destination with the highest overall disruption rate.
British Airways featured prominently for severe delays, recording the highest number of departures delayed by more than three hours on routes to San Francisco, Houston, Boston, Vancouver and Mexico City.
Delta Air Lines recorded the highest cancellation and delay totals on services to Atlanta and Seattle, while Air Canada recorded the highest number of cancellations on routes to Toronto and Vancouver.
Airlines Most Frequently Associated With Disruption
| Airline | Key Findings |
|---|---|
| American Airlines | Highest cancellations on Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and Los Angeles routes |
| United Airlines | Highest cancellations and delays on Newark routes |
| British Airways | Highest severe delays on San Francisco, Houston, Boston, Vancouver and Mexico City routes |
| Delta Air Lines | Highest cancellations and delays on Atlanta and Seattle routes |
| Air Canada | Highest cancellations on Toronto and Vancouver routes |
| Aeromexico | Highest cancellations on Mexico City routes |
| Air Transat | Highest severe delays on Toronto routes |
Coby Benson, Flight Delay Solicitor at Bott and Co, said:
“England fans have invested significant amounts of time and money into attending the World Cup, often planning trips months or even years in advance.
Our analysis shows that some destinations are considerably more vulnerable to disruption, likely due to high passenger volumes, busy airport operations and historically weaker flight performance.
For supporters travelling thousands of miles to watch England, and the final game of the tournament, a lengthy delay can mean missed connections, additional accommodation costs and, in some cases, even missing part or all of a match. Fans flying to New York should allow extra time within their travel plans and be aware of their rights should disruption occur.”
Know Your Rights
Passengers departing from UK airports may be eligible for compensation if:
- Their flight arrives more than three hours late
- Their flight is cancelled with insufficient notice
- The disruption was within the airline’s control
Check If You’re Eligible To Claim For Flight Compensation
If your flight departs from the UK and is delayed by more than three hours, or is cancelled due to circumstances within the airline’s control, you could be entitled to compensation of up to £520.
At Bott and Co, we’ve helped thousands of passengers recover compensation following flight disruption. You can check your eligibility in just a few minutes using our free flight delay compensation calculator.