The 2026 World Cup spans three currencies - the US dollar, Canadian dollar, and Mexican peso. Tipping norms, tax rules, and cash habits vary considerably. Here's the practical visitor's guide.
Currencies at a glance
- •USA - US Dollar (USD, $). Cards accepted essentially everywhere; carry $40-60 in cash for tips.
- •Canada - Canadian Dollar (CAD, $). Cards accepted everywhere including transit; 1 USD = ~1.40 CAD (rates fluctuate).
- •Mexico - Mexican Peso (MXN, $ or 'pesos'). Cards in restaurants, hotels, malls; cash for street food, taxis, mercados. 1 USD = ~17-20 MXN.
Tipping - the differences matter
USA
Tipping is heavy and expected. 18-20% at sit-down restaurants. $1-2 per drink at bars. 15-20% for taxis and rideshare. $1-2 per bag for hotel porters. Counter-service places have tip prompts (15-25% suggested) - those are technically optional but often expected. Failing to tip at a sit-down restaurant is considered rude.
Canada
Slightly less aggressive than USA. 15-20% at sit-down restaurants. $1 per drink. 15-20% for rideshare. Same direction as US norms but the upper-end is less obligatory. Card prompts often suggest 18-25%.
Mexico
Lighter tipping than USA/Canada. 10-15% at restaurants - some bills add a 'propina sugerida' so check before tipping again. 10-20 pesos per drink. Round up Uber/DiDi. 5-10 pesos to gas station attendants and supermarket baggers - small but expected.
Sales tax - displayed differently
- •USA - sales tax (varies by state, 4-10%) is added at the till, NOT included in shelf or menu prices. A $20 menu item becomes $26-30 with tax + tip.
- •Canada - GST (5%) plus provincial PST/HST (varies). In Ontario it's 13% HST; in BC 12% combined. Added at the till.
- •Mexico - IVA (16%) is INCLUDED in displayed prices. The price you see is the price you pay (plus tip).
Card vs cash by country
USA and Canada are largely cashless - all major US/Canadian stadiums require card or mobile pay (no cash inside). Carry $20-40 in local cash for tips and rare cash-only spots. In Mexico, mid-range and upscale establishments accept cards but street vendors, taquerías, and small shops are cash-only - carry 500-1000 pesos.
Getting cash on arrival
- •Use ATMs at major banks (avoid airport currency-exchange counters - terrible rates). In Mexico, ATMs inside bank lobbies are safer than street ATMs.
- •Notify your home bank of travel dates so cards aren't blocked for 'unusual activity' on a foreign withdrawal.
- •Use a credit card with no foreign-transaction fees (Capital One, Chase Sapphire, Schwab debit).
- •Apple Pay and Google Pay work in all three countries at any contactless terminal.
Currency conversion tips
- •Always pay in the local currency, never USD when offered (that's Dynamic Currency Conversion - terrible rate).
- •1 USD = ~1.40 CAD: a $100 CAD bill is roughly $71 USD. Mental shortcut: divide CAD by 1.4 for USD.
- •1 USD = ~17-20 MXN: a 200 MXN meal is roughly $11 USD. Mental shortcut: divide MXN by 18 for USD.
- •Rates fluctuate - check XE.com or your banking app the morning of any large purchase.
Stadium-specific cash policy
Every US and Canadian World Cup stadium is fully cashless inside - no cash accepted at concessions, merchandise, or parking. Cash-to-card kiosks are usually available on the concourse if you arrive with cash. Mexican stadiums (Estadio Azteca, BBVA, Akron) accept both card and cash for most concessions; bring some pesos to be safe.