Bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to North America came with the anticipation of billions of dollars in hospitality spending by attendees—perhaps even enough to offset the broader decline in international travel to the U.S.
Less than a month out from the start of matches in what’s called the world’s biggest sporting event, however, there are signs that reality may fall short of the rosy projections by the soccer tournament’s boosters and organizers.
International Travel Concerns Cloud FIFA 2026 Tourism Outlook
In a March 2025 report, the travel analytics firm Tourism Economics predicted that the 2026 FIFA World Cup, held in 16 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico between June 11 and July 19, would have total stadium attendance topping 6.5 million; total tourist expenditures were projected to be $6.4 billion in the U.S. alone.
“The influx of visitors will likely generate billions of dollars in economic activity, benefiting the hospitality, transportation and retail sectors,” according to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Socioeconomic Impact Analysis report. “Host city hotels anticipate record occupancy, and local businesses will benefit from increased visitor traffic. The event will also enhance these cities’ global visibility, solidifying their status as top tourist destinations.”
However, while some reports state that the 2026 World Cup could break its all-time attendance record, it’s increasingly expected that most of the people filling those stadium seats will be Americans, not international visitors.
Hotels and Host Cities Brace for Mixed Demand
In an April 2026 report, the American Hotel & Lodging Association warned: “indicators suggest the anticipated economic lift may fall short of expectations.”
“Despite more than five million tickets sold, this demand has not yet translated into strong hotel bookings,” with 80 percent of hotels in World Cup host cities saying that bookings are falling short of projections, according to the AHLA’s U.S. Hotel Outlook Report/FIFA World Cup 2026. “Forecasts show that domestic travelers are outpacing international travelers—an imbalance that threatens the broader economic impact the World Cup was expected to generate.”
Visa barriers and broader geopolitical concerns, many linked to the immigration policies of the Trump administration, are significantly suppressing international demand, according to AHLA. In addition to international perception of visa delays and long wait times at airport security, challenges impeding international visitation for the World Cup include new taxes and fees, room block cancellations and increased gas and jet fuel prices.
“FIFA room block overcommitment created an artificial early demand signal that has since unraveled, with roughly half of respondents in host markets reporting material room block releases,” according to the report. “Only a limited subset of markets—those with strong baseline leisure demand or confirmed team base camps—are seeing meaningful incremental uplift.”
Host cities, including Boston, New York and Seattle, are reporting similar shortfalls in expected visitation compared to projections, Fortune reported.
Travel Barriers Threaten International Attendance
Last week, the U.S. State Department announced that it would partially waive a requirement that visitors from certain countries post bonds of up to $15,000, imposed by the Trump administration to discourage visa overstays. The policy, which applied to 50 countries, will be waived for visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, the Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia—all countries whose national teams have qualified for the World Cup —the State Department announced. It will remain in effect for the other nations on the list.
FIFA officials reportedly also have asked the Trump administration to suspend ICE immigration enforcement operations for the duration of the tournament.
That may not be enough, however, to overcome the administration’s perceived hostility to international visitors. Soccer fans from a dozen nations are banned outright from visiting the U.S., and many travelers say they have been deterred by the prospect of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents searching their phones and other electronic devices, as well as a proposal (although not yet implemented) to require visitors to submit five years of their social media history before entering the country.
“With reports of declining tourism numbers, astronomical ticket and transportation prices, and the real risk of empty seats, it is no surprise that FIFA is trying to secure last-minute concessions from the White House to assuage fans’ concerns and boost World Cup attendance,” according to a report from the American Immigration Council. “But … it may be too little, too late.”
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