O2 is covering USA roaming costs for pay monthly Classic Plan customers for the remainder of the World Cup. The offer runs until midnight Pacific time on 20 July 2026, which is 8am UK time, and could save travelling fans up to £7 per day.
What O2 is offering
O2 announced the extension as England reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, which is co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. Until 20 July, eligible pay monthly Classic Plan customers travelling in the USA can use their mobile data, calls and texts with the cost credited back by O2.
The credit applies to the USA only. Fans travelling to matches in Canada or Mexico are not covered and will pay standard roaming rates or bolt-on prices in those countries. In practice this matters less for England supporters, as all of England's remaining fixtures, up to and including the final, take place in the United States.
This brings Classic Plan customers temporarily in line with Volt, Plus Plan and Ultimate Plan customers, who already get USA roaming included through the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone.
O2 remains the only major UK network to include EU roaming as standard on all pay monthly plans, with an allowance of up to 25GB. The USA has always sat outside that benefit, which is what makes this extension notable, even if it is short lived.
How the credit works
This is a credit back scheme rather than automatic free roaming, so it is worth understanding the mechanics before you travel.
Classic Plan customers still need to add a roaming bolt-on to their account for the USA. That can be the O2 Travel Bolt On at £7 per day, which includes unlimited data, texts and calls back to the UK, or a 1GB, 3GB or 5GB data bolt-on. O2 then credits the cost back to your account.
The offer window opened on 6 July and closes at midnight Pacific time on 20 July 2026. Usage outside those dates is charged as normal. Data speeds on the O2 Travel Bolt On are capped at 2Mbps, which is enough for maps, messaging and social media but not ideal for heavy streaming.
Pay As You Go customers are not included. Standard international rates apply for them, so anyone on a PAYG tariff heading to the States should budget separately or consider a travel eSIM.
What this means for customers
If you are an O2 Classic Plan customer travelling to the USA before 20 July, add the relevant bolt-on before you fly and check your account afterwards to confirm the credit has been applied. Without the bolt-on, standard roaming rates apply, and those are steep at £3 per minute for calls.
If you are following the football from home, this changes nothing about your plan, but it is a useful reminder of where O2 sits on roaming generally. Its inclusive EU roaming remains a genuine point of difference against EE, Vodafone and Three, all of which charge daily fees in Europe on most plans.
One thing to keep in perspective: O2 applied a price rise of up to £2.50 per month in April 2026, one of the larger increases this year. If you are weighing up O2 for its roaming benefits, factor that in and read our guide to mid-contract price rises before committing.
The USA credit ends on 20 July, so treat it as a bonus for a trip you are already taking rather than a reason to switch.
Written by Phil Brown, founder of SIM Only Finder. Phil previously worked in UK mobile retail at Three UK, advising customers on SIM plans, contracts, and network choices. He has spent over a decade running consumer comparison platforms and reviews networks and SIM-only deals based on that hands-on industry background. About the author
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