- City: Miami
- State: Florida
- Country: United States of America
- Time difference between the UK: Minus 5 hours
- Avg June Temperature: 31℃ (with approximately 97% humidity and a strong chance of looking permanently sweaty)
Miami, USA
Welcome to Miami
Welcome to Miami, where the beaches are famous, the nightlife never sleeps, and air conditioning is considered a basic human right. It’s a city that feels more Caribbean and Latin American than traditionally American, with a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the United States.
Located in the southeastern corner of Florida, Miami is one of the most multicultural cities in the country. Around 450,000 people live in the city itself, but the wider metropolitan area is home to more than six million people. Spanish is spoken almost as much as English here, and if England somehow end up playing in both Mexico City and Miami, you’ll probably leave the tournament ordering beers in half-Spanish without even realising it.
Miami’s culture is heavily influenced by Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly Cuba. In fact, the city is often referred to as the “Capital of Latin America”. Cuban coffee here is genuinely absurdly strong. One small cup and suddenly you’ll believe walking six miles in 33-degree heat is a fantastic idea.
The city officially became incorporated in 1896 and was founded by Julia Tuttle, making Miami the only major US city founded by a woman. It remained relatively small until the arrival of the railroad transformed it into one of America’s most famous tourist destinations.
Sport is massive here. The city is home to the Miami Heat (NBA), Miami Dolphins (NFL), Miami Marlins (MLB), Florida Panthers (NHL), and Inter Miami CF, now globally recognised thanks to Lionel Messi deciding that football is considerably better when played near beaches and yachts.
One thing to remember about Miami in summer: the weather is relentless. It’s hot, humid, and thunderstorms appear out of nowhere with absolutely no respect for your travel plans. Carry water, wear sunscreen, and don’t underestimate the heat simply because “it’s only a 25-minute walk” according to Google Maps.
© Alamy
Getting there
Miami is one of the easiest World Cup host cities to reach from the UK, with multiple direct flights every day from London and major European hubs. It’s also likely to become a major travel hub for supporters combining matches with Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, Mexico City or even Caribbean trips.
The main public transport operator is Miami-Dade Transit.
Getting around
Miami is far more spread out than many people expect. Films make it look like everyone rollerblades between beaches and rooftop bars all day. In reality, the heat and distances can catch people out quickly.
The Metromover is particularly useful around Downtown Miami and Brickell and costs absolutely nothing, which by Miami standards practically makes it a miracle.
South Beach itself is very walkable, particularly around:
- Ocean Drive
- Collins Avenue
- Lincoln Road
But journeys between neighbourhoods usually require taxis, rideshares or rail.
Uber and Lyft are everywhere, though prices can surge massively after matches or late at night. Leaving Hard Rock Stadium at the same time as 65,000 other people can quickly become a very expensive exercise in patience.
E-scooters and rental bikes are available in parts of the city, but cycling around Miami at midday in June can quickly feel less like sightseeing and more like emergency cardio.
The main transport systems are:
- Metrorail – useful for airport journeys and moving between major districts
- Metromover – free Downtown and Brickell service, and importantly, air-conditioned
- Metrobus – extensive but slower depending on traffic
© Alamy
The stadium
Miami’s World Cup matches will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, roughly 15 miles north of Downtown Miami.
The World Cup capacity is expected to be around 65,000.
One major positive here is the canopy roof covering large parts of the seating bowl, which could prove absolutely crucial in the Florida heat. Without shade, some afternoon kick-offs would essentially become a live experiment in dehydration.
The stadium itself is modern, spacious and generally regarded as one of the better large venues in the United States.
Getting there, however, is not always straightforward.
Public transport options are more limited than in some other host cities, meaning many supporters will rely on:
- Uber/Lyft
- Shuttle buses
- Driving
- Organised coach transport
Traffic around the stadium can become horrendous on event days, so leave much earlier than you think necessary. “We’ll just grab an Uber an hour before kick-off” is exactly the sort of sentence that ends with somebody sprinting through a car park in 32-degree heat.
Parking will likely need to be booked in advance through FIFA or official operators.
Inside the stadium, the concourses are wide with plenty of food and drink options, though prices will naturally remind you that you are attending a major sporting event in America.
The stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins and has hosted:
- Multiple Super Bowls
- Formula One events
- Major concerts
- The Miami Open tennis tournament
Eating and drinking
If Dallas was all about barbecue and Mexico City was all about tacos, Miami is all about Cuban food, seafood, Latin American cuisine and cocktails that arrive looking like science experiments.
The standout area for food culture is Little Havana, particularly around Calle Ocho. This is the heart of Miami’s Cuban community and one of the best places in the city for atmosphere.
Versailles is probably the city’s most famous Cuban restaurant and absolutely worth experiencing. Cuban sandwiches, ropa vieja, croquetas and black beans with rice are staples here, while the Cuban coffee may briefly allow you to see through time itself.
For nightlife and bars:
- Brickell – rooftop bars, upscale restaurants and late-night venues
- Wynwood – breweries, street art, live music and trendy bars
- South Beach – iconic, chaotic and expensive, but worth seeing at least once
Wynwood in particular has become one of the trendiest areas in Miami. Think Shoreditch with palm trees, murals everywhere and considerably better weather.
Sports bars are everywhere throughout Downtown, Brickell and South Beach. Americans do sports bars properly:
- Massive screens
- Endless wings
- Buckets of beer
- Approximately 400 televisions showing six different sports simultaneously
Food-wise, don’t just survive on burgers and chips. Miami’s food scene is genuinely one of the best in America.
Things worth trying:
- Cuban sandwiches
- Stone crab
- Ceviche
- Empanadas
- Key lime pie
- Fresh seafood
Street food and takeaway spots are generally safe if they’re busy and popular with locals. As a rule, if somewhere has a queue of local people outside, you’re probably onto a winner.
One warning: South Beach prices can be outrageous. Always check menus before sitting down unless you’re entirely comfortable paying £18 for a beer and another £12 because somebody carried it over to you.
Tipping is standard throughout Miami, with around 18-20% generally expected unless already included.
You’ll find:
- Live music pouring onto the streets
- Cigar shops
- Family-run restaurants
- Domino games in Máximo Gómez Park
- Enough rum to sink a small navy
Things to see and do
The obvious starting point is South Beach. Even if beaches aren’t normally your thing, it’s one of the most recognisable stretches of coastline in the world and absolutely worth experiencing once.
The nearby Art Deco Historic District gives Miami much of its distinctive look, with pastel-coloured buildings from the 1930s and 1940s lining Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue.
Little Havana is probably the best cultural experience in the city. Grab Cuban coffee, listen to live salsa music, watch locals playing dominoes in the park and soak up an atmosphere that feels completely different from much of the United States.
Wynwood Walls is one of the most famous street art destinations in America, filled with huge murals and installations from artists across the world. Even outside the official walls area, much of Wynwood is covered in artwork and worth exploring.
If you want a break from the city itself, Everglades National Park is accessible from Miami and offers airboat tours through huge wetlands filled with wildlife including:
- Alligators
- Turtles
- Exotic birds
Just remember: if somebody says “they’re usually harmless”, maintain a respectful distance anyway.
Other worthwhile spots include:
- Bayside Marketplace – waterfront restaurants, bars and boat tours
- Brickell waterfront – excellent skyline views, especially at sunset
- Key Biscayne – quieter beaches away from South Beach chaos
- Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale – home of Inter Miami if you fancy another football ground visit
Miami also has excellent beaches beyond South Beach itself. Mid-Beach and North Beach are generally quieter and slightly less chaotic if you simply want somewhere to recover from the previous evening.
FIFA Fan Zone
The official FIFA Fan Festival in Miami is expected to be based near Downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay, although exact details are still to be fully confirmed.
Expect:
- Giant screens
- Live entertainment
- Food and drink vendors
- Sponsor activities
Temperatures that will make standing in direct sunlight at midday feel like a personal challenge from FIFA itself.
British Consulate
The British Consulate-General in Miami is located in Downtown Miami and will work alongside FCDO staff during the tournament.
As always:
- Keep passports safe
- Carry copies of important documents
- Use hotel safes where possible
- Try not to test the patience of local law enforcement after fourteen frozen margaritas
American policing is generally less enthusiastic about “just having a laugh” than back home.
Accommodation
Miami accommodation is expensive at the best of times and during the World Cup it is likely to become eye-watering.
South Beach hotels will naturally attract huge demand thanks to the nightlife and beaches, but prices here can become absurd very quickly.
Fort Lauderdale in particular could become popular with supporters looking for cheaper accommodation while still remaining connected to Miami via Brightline rail services.
One thing to remember is that Miami hotels love additional fees:
- Resort fees
- Parking fees
- Service charges
- Taxes
- Various mysterious extras that appear at checkout like an unpleasant surprise substitute appearance in the 94th minute
If using Airbnb, check transport links carefully before booking. Miami is not a city where “we’ll just walk it” is always realistic.
Overall, Miami is one of the most vibrant, entertaining and unique cities at this World Cup. It’s loud, humid, colourful, occasionally ridiculous and enormous fun.
Just remember two things:
stay hydrated, and never trust a nightclub promoter who says “free entry”.
Areas worth considering include:
- Downtown Miami
- Brickell
- Little Havana
- Wynwood
- Fort Lauderdale
