With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a month away, hundreds of thousands of international visitors are converging on cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico - many of them carrying multiple devices and relying heavily on public Wi-Fi networks to stay connected. For travelers unprepared for the digital risks that come with large-scale public events, that connectivity could come at a cost.
Why Public Wi-Fi at Major Events Is a Security Liability
Public Wi-Fi networks - in airports, hotels, bars, transit hubs, and fan zones - are inherently insecure. Unlike a private home network, public hotspots often lack encryption, meaning data transmitted over them can be intercepted by bad actors sharing the same connection. At large-scale international gatherings, where network congestion is high and security oversight is thin, the risk compounds significantly.
A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, addresses this by encrypting your internet traffic before it leaves your device. Your connection is routed through a remote server, masking your IP address and shielding your browsing activity from anyone attempting to monitor the network. For travelers moving between cities and relying on unfamiliar infrastructure, it is one of the most practical digital protections available.
Server Proximity Determines How Well a VPN Actually Performs
Not all VPN services perform equally in practice. The most common complaint among VPN users is speed degradation - the additional routing step can slow your connection noticeably, particularly when the server you are assigned to is geographically distant. This matters most when streaming content, making video calls, or accessing data-heavy services on the go.
NordVPN has built out a network of over 9,000 servers across 135 countries, including physical servers in all 50 US states. Host cities including Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Houston each have a dedicated NordVPN server, as do Toronto, Vancouver, and Mexico City. Because your traffic does not have to travel far to reach a server, connection speeds remain high. NordVPN's infrastructure is capable of exceeding 1,200 Mbps - fast enough for virtually any consumer use case.
All of NordVPN's servers operate on a RAM-only basis, which means stored data is automatically wiped when a server shuts down. Combined with an independently audited no-logs policy - confirming that browsing data is never recorded - this architecture offers a meaningful layer of privacy assurance beyond what most VPN providers deliver.
Choosing the Right VPN for International Travel
NordVPN is one of only three VPN providers currently offering servers in every US state, alongside ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (PIA). Each serves a different type of user.
- NordVPN - strongest speeds, broadest server coverage across North American host cities, and verified no-logs policy. Best suited for most travelers.
- ExpressVPN - slightly lower cost on premium plans, which bundle additional privacy tools. Easier to configure for first-time VPN users, though streaming unblocking and raw speeds fall below NordVPN.
- Private Internet Access (PIA) - the most affordable of the three, with a high degree of configurability. Better suited to technically experienced users; the interface and feature set can feel opaque for casual travelers.
The right choice depends on your technical comfort level and how you intend to use it. For most people - those who want to install a VPN, connect quickly, and not think about it again - NordVPN offers the most reliable combination of speed, security, and ease of use across all three host countries.
Digital Security as a Travel Essential, Not an Afterthought
Packing for an international trip now routinely involves managing several devices simultaneously - a phone, a laptop, a tablet. Each one represents a potential exposure point on public networks. A VPN is not a specialist tool for privacy advocates; it has become a standard precaution for anyone traveling with connected devices, in the same category as travel insurance or a portable charger.
Large international events accelerate the need precisely because they draw dense concentrations of visitors in a short time frame, overwhelming local network infrastructure and creating conditions that opportunistic cybercriminals have historically exploited. Planning your digital security before departure - rather than scrambling for a solution once abroad - is the simplest and most effective approach.
