This Sunday, 19th July, Spain plays the 2026 World Cup Final against Argentina at MetLife Stadium, on the outskirts of New York. La Roja returns to a World Cup final 16 years after the glory of South Africa, and in Marbella and across the Costa del Sol, there are already people looking at flights to experience it live. But before rushing to the airport, there's one question worth asking yourself: are you crossing the Atlantic with proper travel insurance?

La Roja, one step away from a second star

Spain's journey to this final is the stuff of memories. The team started the tournament in uncertain form — a goalless draw in their opening match — and grew with every game until they became the tournament's most solid defensive unit: just one goal conceded throughout the entire World Cup. That's not luck, that's character.

In the semi-finals, La Roja dismantled France with a commanding 2-0 victory, with goals from Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro. This is only Spain's second World Cup final in their history, and the memory of Iniesta's goal in 2010 looms over a generation eager to write its own golden page. After all this time, Spain stands just ninety minutes away from glory.

And the opposition will be no pushover: Argentina, the reigning world champions, earned their place in the final with a memorable comeback. Two football giants, one trophy. Sunday promises a match for the history books, whichever way you look at it.

Travelling to the final isn't something you improvise: the detail many people forget

Excitement has a way of taking over, and when the heart says "let's go", it's all too easy to book the flight and hotel without giving anything else a second thought. The problem is that the final is being held in the United States, where healthcare works nothing like it does here: every visit to A&E, every test, every night in hospital comes at a cost. And not a modest one.

A twisted ankle celebrating a goal, a bout of food poisoning, or a simple knock in the crowd can result in a bill running into thousands of pounds if you're travelling without cover. We see it every season at our office: supporters from the Costa del Sol who head off to a major event thinking "nothing's going to happen" and come back with a nasty shock — or a debt — that could easily have been avoided.

What your insurance should cover for a flight to New York

Not all travel insurance policies are the same. For a trip to the United States and a mass-attendance event like a World Cup final, certain types of cover are absolutely essential:

• Medical assistance abroad: this is the most critical element of all. In the US, a medical emergency can easily exceed €2,000, and a hospital admission can escalate far beyond that. Look for a policy with high medical cover — at least €150,000.
• Personal accident: compensation should you suffer a serious injury during your trip, whether at the stadium, in transit, or out on the street.
• Trip cancellation: if you fall ill before departure or an unexpected family or work situation arises, you'll recover what you've paid for flights and accommodation.
• Lost or delayed baggage: on long-haul flights with a connection, luggage going astray is more common than you might think.
• Repatriation: in the event of a serious hospitalisation, the insurer arranges to bring you back to Spain.
• Personal liability: if you accidentally cause damage to another person or their property, you're covered.
• Legal assistance: useful should any legal issue arise at your destination — not as unlikely as you'd think at large-scale events.

Medical cover: the top priority on your list

If we had to single out just one type of cover for this trip, it would be medical assistance. In the United States there is no public healthcare system to fall back on: without insurance, you're paying out of your own pocket from the very first moment. And we're talking about a country where a single night in hospital can cost as much as an entire holiday.

A good travel insurance policy doesn't just cover the expense — it puts someone on the end of the phone who manages your admission, finds the right hospital, and liaises with the medical centre on your behalf, in your own language. When things go wrong thousands of miles from home, that support is worth just as much as the financial protection. If you're also travelling with an existing health condition or ongoing treatment, it's well worth reviewing the policy terms carefully — or considering a health insurance policy that provides day-to-day cover as well.

Don't rely on "my credit card covers it"

Many people assume that the cover provided by their credit card is sufficient. For a weekend trip within Europe, it sometimes is. For flying to North America for a World Cup final, it almost never is.

The medical limits on credit cards tend to be low, the exclusions numerous, and the telephone assistance slow or restricted. When something serious happens, you want someone who can act immediately — not a page of small print that leaves you stranded. For this type of trip, a dedicated travel insurance policy isn't a luxury: it's the difference between a minor inconvenience and a genuine crisis.

When should you take out cover?

The sooner the better. If you take out the policy at the same time as booking your flights and hotel, cancellation cover kicks in from that very moment. If you leave it until the last day, you lose that protection entirely and take on the risk of losing everything you've paid should anything crop up before you depart.

There's another reason not to wait: with World Cup final fever in full swing, flight prices are rising by the hour and insurance premiums may follow suit. Acting early always works in your favour.

Would you like to compare your options with no obligation before you book? At Segurmar we're independent brokers: we work with the leading insurers to find the cover that best suits your trip. Message us on WhatsApp from our office in Marbella and fly to New York with the only thrill that truly matters: the football. Come on, Spain!