The United States is anticipating a significant surge in international tourism, largely driven by the upcoming FIFA World Cup in 2026. This optimistic outlook emerges against a backdrop of recent declines in foreign visitor numbers to the U.S. Previously, concerns over trade policies and stringent border security measures implemented during the administration of then-President Donald Trump were cited as contributing factors to this downturn. Data indicated a 4 percent drop in international tourism during July, with projections suggesting a potential further decline of up to 6.3 percent by the year 2025 if current trends were to continue.
According to reports, international travel to the United States was projected to reach approximately 67.9 million visitors in 2025. Despite this, earlier figures from the U.S. National Tourism Office had shown a 4 percent decrease in foreign tourist numbers as of July, with analytics firm Tourism Economics estimating a potential drop of up to 6.3 percent for the period. However, these negative trends are widely expected to reverse with the arrival of the FIFA World Cup in 2026. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously indicated to then-President Donald Trump that the event could draw between 6 to 10 million spectators to the U.S. In contrast, tourism industry experts have offered a more conservative forecast, estimating that the global football tournament will attract roughly 1 to 6 million foreign visitors to the host nation.
The prestigious global football tournament is scheduled to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running from June 11 to July 19. The United States is set to host matches in 11 designated cities. Even at this preliminary stage, demand for flights and accommodation during the World Cup period in 2026 has already surged, with searches reportedly reaching nearly 70 percent of capacity. This heightened demand is projected to drive up accommodation costs significantly, potentially seeing an increase of 30 percent at the start of the tournament and escalating to as much as 60 percent by its conclusion. Visitors attending the event are anticipated to spend an average of at least 12 days in the country, with an estimated daily expenditure of $416 per person.
Despite the widespread economic boost, not all 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 World Cup are expected to benefit equally. The distribution of economic impact will largely depend on which popular national teams are scheduled to play in each respective city. Teams with massive global fan bases, such as England, Brazil, France, Argentina, and Portugal, are anticipated to draw significantly higher numbers of tourists to the cities where their matches are held, creating localized surges in visitor activity and spending.
In related developments, former U.S. leader Donald Trump had previously announced initiatives to expedite visa processing for World Cup 2026 attendees who had already secured match tickets. This commitment underscores efforts to facilitate international travel for the event. Furthermore, FIFA itself has confirmed robust early demand, reporting that over 1.6 million match tickets have already been sold to fans through its online platforms, highlighting the global anticipation for the tournament.
