The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in 50 days, with over one million fans expected to visit the US. However, a new UX Connect report finds the US prepaid market is not ready to meet international traveler needs.
The report, Prepaid Mobile Plans: Best Practices to Win Visitors Traveling to the US for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, analyzed discoverability, plan information, purchase, and installation across 11 providers from an international visitor perspective. Key findings from the report include:
- Prepaid plans are difficult to find on the websites of tier one carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon
- US MVNO’s specialize in prepaid plans, but they are not designed to meet the requirements of travelers visiting the US
- Dedicated travel eSIM providers such as Holafly, Nomad and Saily offer the best short-term value, but can be limited
Paul Brown, report author and Head of Research, commented, “Fans traveling to the US will want to stay connected and will often purchase prepaid plans to avoid high roaming costs. However, US prepaid plans are not optimized for short-term use – they are often expensive, favor long-term pricing, and include features of little value to travelers.”
“With a surge in international fans visiting the US, prepaid and eSIM experiences represent a short-term, high-revenue opportunity for operators,” added Monica Wong, Senior UX Researcher at UX Connect. “However, purchasing from US providers remains more difficult than travel eSIM alternatives.”
The report also identifies 25+ best practices across the user journey of purchasing a prepaid travel plan related to discoverability, plan optimization, purchasing a plan, and installing and activating an eSIM, to ensure users have a seamless experience.
To download your complimentary summary of the report, click here.
About UX Connect
UX Connect is your global independent source for unbiased customer research providing real-life data and insights to help you create the optimal user experience for your product or service. We are highly experienced in user interview and observational research techniques within the intelligent home, in-vehicle and mobile contexts. This allows us to connect with people to understand their behaviors and motivations, giving you an advantage in developing usable solutions and delivering a compelling user experience. www.uxconnectresearch.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422944391/en/
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