Summer of football: driving guide for West Yorkshire fans

For fans who are heading to the United States for the matches, the tournament running from 11 June to 19 July across 16 host cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico is the trip of a lifetime. England's group games take fans to Dallas, Boston, and New York/New Jersey – three very different cities with unique approaches to driving, parking, and getting to a football match.

AUTODOC, Europe's leading specialist in car parts and accessories, has produced a comprehensive road guide for British fans at the tournament. This article sets out everything fans from Leeds and West Yorkshire need to know before they pick up the keys to a rental car on the other side of the Atlantic.

England's group stage: your destination and how to get there

England's three group fixtures are:

● 17 June - England vs Croatia, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

● 23 June - England vs Ghana, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

● 27 June - England vs Panama, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York/New Jersey)

All three games are in the USA. This means that no international border crossings are required for the group stage, making planning and documents considerably simpler. The distances between venues are a different story. Dallas to Boston is approximately 2,900 kilometres, requiring a multi-day drive or a much more sensible flight. The north-east corridor from Boston to New York/New Jersey is roughly 350 kilometres, which means a comfortable three- to four-hour drive. A road trip between these matches is more feasible.

How you handle each leg of the journey and whether you drive on match day will vary significantly by venue. AUTODOC's research makes it clear that the right approach is different for each of England's three group stage venues.

What to prepare before leaving Yorkshire

Above all, there is one administrative task that must be completed before leaving Yorkshire: obtaining your International Driving Permit (IDP). AUTODOC stresses that you cannot obtain an IDP once you have left the UK. It must be purchased in advance from a PayPoint shop. There are PayPoint locations throughout Leeds city centre, as well as in Bradford, Wakefield and Huddersfield. Each IDP costs around £5.50 and is valid for 12 months.

For the USA and Canada, you need the 1949 convention IDP. For Mexico, the 1926 convention IDP is required – a completely separate document. The two cannot be used in place of each other.

Your full UK photocard driving licence is valid for tourist trips in all three countries, but many hire car companies will ask for the IDP alongside your licence at the collection desk. Without it, you could be turned away after a long transatlantic journey. Paper licences are not accepted, so make sure to get a photocard before you travel.

Complete document checklist:

● Full UK photocard driving licence (photocard only)

● IDP 1949 convention (USA and Canada)

● IDP 1926 convention (Mexico, if applicable)

● Valid biometric passport (required for ESTA for the USA, or eTA for Canada)

● DVLA check code: this can be generated at gov.uk (if requested)

● Rental agreement and confirmation

● Insurance documents: check what the insurance cover includes carefully

● Credit card in the main driver's name: most US hire desks will not accept debit cards for the security deposit

What West Yorkshire drivers need to know about North American roads

Leeds and West Yorkshire drivers are used to a varied road environment, experiencing the regular chaos of the M62, the M1, the A1(M), city centre roads, and the more characterful routes up into the Dales and across to Lancashire. North American roads are usually manageable, but specific rules differ enough to cause real problems for drivers who are unaware of them.

You drive on the right. All hire cars in North America have the steering wheel on the left. You will adapt to motorway and open road driving relatively quickly. The danger lies in leaving a car park or petrol station after stopping – your instinct will be to turn left. Remind yourself every single time you set off from a stationary position.

Speed units. The USA uses miles per hour, the same as the UK. Canada and Mexico use kilometres per hour. You should always check which unit of measurement you are reading on the speedometer.

Right turn at red lights. In most US states, you may turn right at a red traffic light after a complete stop, provided you yield to pedestrians and oncoming traffic, and there is no 'No Turn on Red' sign. However, New York City largely prohibits it. There is no equivalent in the UK – when in doubt, waiting at a red light is often the right thing to do.

Four-way stops. These are junctions with a stop sign on every approach and no traffic lights. The rule is that whoever arrives first goes first. If two cars arrive simultaneously, the driver on the right has priority. No roundabout give-way conventions apply. Wait if you are unsure.

School buses. When a school bus stops with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, all traffic in both directions on an undivided road must stop. Every US state and Canadian province enforces this with fines, licence points, and possible suspension. There is no equivalent in the UK, making it the rule British drivers are most likely to get caught out by.

HOV lanes. Diamond-marked motorway lanes require at least two occupants. Solo drivers are not permitted and face fines. If you have a car full of West Yorkshire fans heading to the match, you are eligible. Check the signposting for each state.

Toll roads. The corridor covering Boston, New York/New Jersey, and Philadelphia has a number of toll roads. The E-ZPass system covers this region and many rental cars carry a transponder. Confirm this at the car hire desk and make a note of the daily fees.

Stadium by stadium: what England fans need to know

Dallas – AT&T stadium, Arlington (England vs Croatia, 17 June)

Of all the venues England will play in during the group stage, Arlington is the most car-friendly. It is a suburb that relies on cars and has no conventional public transport network. Some parking is available near the stadium. For fans landing at Dallas Fort Worth Airport and hiring a car, driving to the stadium on 17 June is a perfectly viable option. Check official sources for the latest parking and tailgating arrangements – these were still being finalised at the time of writing.

This is the only England group game where driving to the stadium on match day is a sensible strategy rather than an exercise in frustration.

Boston – Gillette stadium, Foxborough (England vs Ghana, 23 June)

Gillette Stadium is about 50 kilometres south of central Boston with no direct metro connection. A special match-day train from Boston runs at $80 per person. There is also an express bus, which costs $95 per person. Parking near the ground exists but is heavily limited, with demand far exceeding supply. AUTODOC's recommendation is to park well away from Foxborough and use the match-day shuttle or train for the final stretch. Do not expect to find street parking near the stadium on 23 June as it will not be there.

New York/New Jersey – MetLife stadium (England vs Panama, 27 June)

Please note that there is no public parking at MetLife Stadium during World Cup matches. None. The car parks have been repurposed as fan zones and security areas. NJ Transit is providing expanded rail and bus services, but tickets are capped at 40,000 per match, must be pre-purchased through the NJ Transit app, and require a physical wristband for the return journey. Ride-share drop-offs are in restricted zones, requiring a 20–30 minute walk to the gates.

Leave the rental car at your accommodation. Base yourself in New Jersey or the outer boroughs of New York, and travel to MetLife on NJ Transit. Book that ticket the moment your match ticket is confirmed. Attempting to drive to or park near MetLife on 27 June is not a viable option.

The Northeast corridor road trip: Boston to New York

Between England's Boston and New York/New Jersey fixtures (23 June and 27 June), there are four days and approximately 350 kilometres to cover. The interstate route is three to four hours in regular traffic. For Leeds fans who think nothing of driving down the M1 to London for a match, this stretch of the American interstate shouldn’t be too intimidating.

The recommendation from AUTODOC is to base yourself in New Jersey rather than in Manhattan for the New York matches. Parking in New York City is expensive enough and genuinely complicated to navigate. From New Jersey, NJ Transit handles match day transport without the stress of city parking.

Match-day parking strategy: principles that apply everywhere

● Arrive at least three hours before kick-off

● Park outside the event enforcement zone and travel the final stretch on foot or by transit

● Avoid informal unlicensed lots as some will not let you leave after the match

● Photograph every parking sign before walking away as US signs carry multiple time windows and day restrictions on a single pole

● Note that in New York, the city designates and enforces Tow Away Zones during major events

● Keep your payment confirmation on hand

● Plan your post-match exit route before you park, not afterwards

Pre-trip car checks

When collecting a rental car, walk around the vehicle before driving off and make a note of any existing damage on the inspection sheet. Test the air conditioning immediately – Dallas regularly exceeds 35°C in June, so a broken system would be a serious problem in that environment. Check that the windscreen wipers work properly, as Boston and the north-east of the USA experience sudden heavy summer rain. Find out whether the car has a spare tyre or only a tyre inflation kit and where it is stored. Finally, check whether the vehicle takes petrol or diesel – diesel hire cars are uncommon in the USA.

For fans driving to a UK airport to catch their flight, a quick check of the tyre pressures, brake pads, wipers, and fluid levels beforehand takes 20 minutes and helps you avoid unnecessary delays.

Frequently asked questions

Is my UK licence valid in the USA?

Yes, a full UK photocard licence is accepted for tourist visits in all US states. Bring your 1949 IDP as a number of hire companies require it.

What if I am stopped by the police in America?

Pull over promptly and safely. Keep hands visible and on the steering wheel. Wait to be asked before reaching for documents. Present your licence, IDP, rental agreement, and insurance when requested. Remain calm.

Can I take a car hired in the US into Canada or Mexico?

It may be possible to take a hire car into Canada, but only with advance written authorisation from the hire company. Taking it into Mexico is almost certainly not permitted. Most major car rental companies explicitly prohibit it.

What about driving in Mexico?

You need the 1926 IDP and Mexican liability insurance (mandatory and not covered by UK travel insurance). Additionally, you should only drive during daylight hours and on toll roads for intercity journeys for your own safety. The FCDO advises checking live travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico before any trip.

Emergency number?

You can call 911 throughout the USA, Canada, and Mexico.