The first Hong Kong agency to represent FIFA World Cup 26 hospitality in Greater China
From a city long practiced in bridging East and West, a 78-year-old Hong Kong travel agency has been entrusted with connecting 300 million football fans across Greater China to the grandest stage the sport has ever assembled. Connexus Travel's appointment as the exclusive regional sales agent for FIFA World Cup 26 hospitality is not merely a commercial arrangement — it is a quiet affirmation that Hong Kong, despite the turbulences of recent years, retains its instinct as a crossroads of global ambition. When the tournament unfolds across three nations and 16 cities in the summer of 2026, the journeys of countless regional fans will have been shaped, in part, by decisions made in this harbor city.
- For the first time in history, the FIFA World Cup will stretch across three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — with 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 host cities creating an unprecedented logistical and commercial opportunity.
- Connexus Travel, founded in 1948 and holding one of Hong Kong's earliest travel licenses, has secured exclusive rights to sell official hospitality packages across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan — a market of an estimated 300 million football fans.
- Demand is expected to be fierce: premium tiers ranging from Pitchside Lounges to private stadium suites with butler service are already drawing corporate and individual clients who understand that supply is finite and the tournament is historic.
- The agency's parent company, CSTS Enterprises, frames the appointment not just as ticket sales but as experience-led cultural journeys — blending luxury travel, gourmet hospitality, and the electric atmosphere of a once-in-a-generation sporting event.
- With the final set for MetLife Stadium in New York before 82,500 spectators on July 19, 2026, Connexus Travel is urging early commitment, warning that the window for securing guaranteed access to the world's most-watched sporting event is narrowing quickly.
Connexus Travel, a Hong Kong agency whose origins trace back to 1948, has become the first company headquartered in the city to serve as official sales representative for FIFA World Cup 26 hospitality packages across Greater China. Announced in mid-January, the appointment grants the agency exclusive access to sell guaranteed match tickets, luxury stadium experiences, and curated travel journeys to fans and corporate clients across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan — a combined market of roughly 300 million football supporters.
The tournament itself is without precedent: spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 host cities, 104 matches, and 39 days, it will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, culminating in a final at MetLife Stadium in New York. Cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto, Vancouver, and Mexico City will host matches in stadiums seating between 45,000 and 94,000 spectators.
Connexus Travel's hospitality offerings are structured across several tiers. The Pitchside Lounge provides premium seating with elevated catering; the Trophy Lounge adds gourmet dining and entertainment; and the Private Suite Package delivers a fully enclosed stadium box with panoramic views, bespoke culinary service, and dedicated in-suite hosting. All packages include round-trip flights, luxury hotel accommodation, chauffeured transport, and a personal account manager. Fully customized itineraries — allowing clients to select specific matches, cities, and travel arrangements — are also available.
The agency, originally founded as Swire Travel and holding Hong Kong travel license number 350001, operates under parent company CSTS Enterprises, which spans media, entertainment, sports, and travel technology. CEO Abel Zhao described the partnership with On Location, FIFA's official hospitality partner, as both a milestone for the agency and a recognition of Hong Kong's expanding role in global sports tourism. Given the scale of anticipated demand, early booking is strongly advised.
Connexus Travel, a Hong Kong travel agency with roots stretching back to 1948, has been named the official sales representative for FIFA World Cup 26 hospitality packages across Greater China—a designation that makes it the first company headquartered in Hong Kong to hold this role for one of the world's largest sporting events.
The appointment, announced in mid-January, positions Connexus Travel as the exclusive channel through which fans and corporate clients across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan can purchase guaranteed match tickets, luxury stadium suites, and curated travel experiences for the tournament. The company will serve an estimated 300 million football fans in the region, a market that has emerged as one of the most dynamic sources of sports tourism spending globally.
The World Cup itself will be historic: for the first time, the tournament will span three nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—with 48 teams playing 104 matches across 16 host cities over 39 days, from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Games will be held in major North American cities including Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Toronto, and Vancouver, as well as Mexico City and Guadalajara. Stadium capacities range from 45,000 to 94,000 seats, with the final scheduled for MetLife Stadium in New York, which holds 82,500.
Connexus Travel will offer tiered hospitality packages designed to appeal to different clientele. The Pitchside Lounge provides sophisticated seating in premium stadium zones with refined catering and elevated service. The Trophy Lounge combines prime sideline seating with gourmet dining and immersive entertainment. At the top tier, the Private Suite Package delivers a private stadium box with panoramic views, bespoke culinary service, and dedicated in-suite hosting. All packages include round-trip flights on partner airlines, accommodation at world-class hotels, chauffeured luxury transportation, and a dedicated account manager. Selected packages come with on-site concierge support and personal butler service.
Beyond these standard offerings, Connexus Travel will design fully customized experiences. Clients can select specific matches, choose their preferred host cities, and arrange personalized travel, accommodation, and event logistics tailored to their individual needs and expectations. The company positions these journeys as more than logistics—as immersive experiences that blend cultural discovery with the atmosphere of the tournament itself.
The appointment reflects Connexus Travel's deep regional expertise and operational track record. The agency, originally founded as Swire Travel, holds Hong Kong travel license number 350001 and is among the earliest registered travel agencies in the territory. Its parent company, CSTS Enterprises, operates across media, entertainment, sports, and travel technology, with a stated focus on connecting major sporting and entertainment events to regional and local brands through experience-led marketing.
According to Abel Zhao, Chief Executive Officer of CSTS Enterprises, the partnership with On Location—FIFA's official hospitality partner—represents both a milestone for Connexus Travel and a validation of Hong Kong's growing role in global sports travel infrastructure. The company has emphasized that early booking is strongly recommended, given anticipated high demand from Greater China's massive fan base. Interested clients can secure packages through Connexus Travel's sports hospitality portal.
Notable Quotes
This appointment is not only a proud moment for Connexus Travel, but also a landmark for Hong Kong's sports travel industry. Our team is committed to delivering world-class experiences that go far beyond the stadium—bringing fans closer to the heart of the game, the host cities and the culture surrounding the World Cup.— Abel Zhao, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of CSTS Enterprises
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that a Hong Kong company got this contract instead of, say, an American travel agency?
Hong Kong sits at the intersection of Greater China's wealth and global travel expertise. Three hundred million potential fans in that region have spending power, but they need a trusted local intermediary who understands both their preferences and the logistics of North American travel. Connexus Travel has 78 years of operational history there—that's credibility.
So this is really about market access, not just about selling tickets?
Exactly. FIFA and On Location needed someone who could reach and serve that specific customer base at scale. A Hong Kong agency with deep regional networks can do that in ways a purely American operator couldn't.
What's the actual product here? Is it just a ticket?
No, it's a complete journey. You're buying a guaranteed seat at a specific match, but also flights, hotels across multiple cities, ground transportation, concierge service—some packages even include a personal butler. It's designed for corporate clients doing relationship-building and wealthy families wanting a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Why would someone pay premium prices for this instead of just booking their own travel?
Simplicity, mainly. You're coordinating flights, hotels, stadium access, and ground logistics across potentially three different countries. Connexus handles all of it. Plus, you get guaranteed access to premium seating and hospitality spaces that aren't available to the general public.
Is there any risk this doesn't sell well?
The company is already recommending early booking due to anticipated high demand. Whether that demand materializes depends on how the Chinese economy performs over the next 18 months and how much disposable income people have for international travel. But the fact that FIFA chose them suggests confidence in the market.
What does this say about Hong Kong's position in the world right now?
It signals that despite everything else happening there, Hong Kong still has operational credibility and regional reach that global event organizers value. They trusted a Hong Kong company to represent them to 300 million potential customers.