Heading to the United States to attend this year's FIFA World Cup? You might want to carefully consider which airport you plan to use, particularly if you have a connecting flight to catch. The world's worst airports for missed connections have been identified, and all four major US hubs included in the ranking have been deemed high risk.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 being hosted across various cities in the United States this summer, numerous passengers from the United Kingdom travelling to match venues will need to connect through US airports. AirAdvisor's Summer Connection Risk Index 2026 assessed the risk of disruption at 20 major global hubs, scoring them based on delays exceeding 60 minutes, cancellation rates, average delay duration, and total flight volume.
According to the study, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has been ranked as the worst, occupying the 20th spot with a score of 6.15 out of 10. At DFW, more than one in seven departures ran at least an hour late last summer; during the summer-only measurement, that figure climbed to 16.9 per cent. Narrowly missing out on the title of 'worst' is Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which comes in at 19th place with a score of 6.60. It is followed by New York John F. Kennedy International Airport in 18th place with a score of 6.75, and Miami International Airport in 17th place with a score of 6.85.
A missed connection at JFK or Miami while en route to a World Cup match could mean spending hours in a terminal and waiting in rebooking queues. Passengers in such situations do have rights, as AirAdvisor explains. Under UK261, a missed connection caused by a carrier delay or cancellation when departing from a UK airport can entitle passengers to fixed compensation of £220, £350, or £520, depending on flight distance, in addition to re-routing or a full refund. This regulation applies regardless of the airline's nationality, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the enforcement body.
Outside of the United States, the index placed London Heathrow Airport seventh and in the low risk tier, with a score of 8.15 out of 10. This was above Frankfurt Main Airport (7.95, moderate) and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (7.90, moderate). Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor, commented: 'The airports at the bottom of this ranking share structural conditions that turn a single delayed rotation into a chain of missed connections. Middle East airspace disruptions have made it worse, extended routings drive up fuel burn, and airlines absorb the cost by trimming the buffers that would otherwise stop a delay from cascading. For passengers connecting through these hubs this summer, the margin for error is thinner than it has been in years.'
However, there are steps that every connecting passenger can take this summer to mitigate the risk. Firstly, add a buffer beyond the airline minimum. At airports below the low risk band, a 90-minute connection is not sufficient protection. Aim for at least two to three hours on peak summer dates. Secondly, ask for care before paying for it. Airlines must provide meals and accommodation during significant delays. Request it at the desk; do not wait to be offered. Finally, keep everything: boarding passes, gate delay notifications, and receipts. All of it becomes evidence if a compensation claim follows.
The Daily Mail has contacted Miami International, New York JFK, Chicago O'Hare, and Dallas/Fort Worth airports for comment.
