FIFA World Cup 2026 Faces Scrutiny Amidst Declining U.S. International Tourism Forecasts

Concerns are mounting regarding international fan attendance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This comes as recent tourism forecasts for the U.S. indicate a significant downturn in foreign visitation, challenging earlier optimistic projections. The tournament, which will feature an expanded 48-team format across 16 host cities, primarily in the U.S., is now facing questions about its ability to attract a global audience amidst a shifting geopolitical and travel landscape.

Carla 'Bluechecked' Marinucci, a prominent social media commentator, articulated these anxieties in a recent tweet, stating, > "Foreign tourism has collapsed. Good luck getting fans from abroad to travel to USA for @FIFAWorldCup." This sentiment reflects a growing apprehension about the impact of current U.S. policies and rhetoric on international travel.

Official data from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) initially projected a robust recovery, forecasting 77.1 million international visitors to the U.S. in 2025 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels with 85 million in 2026. However, more recent analyses from entities like Oxford Economics and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) present a starker picture. The WTTC reported that the U.S. is uniquely positioned to lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, with a projected 22.5% decline from its peak a decade ago.

This revised outlook attributes the decline to factors such as "America First" policies, heightened border security, visa complexities, and a strong U.S. dollar. Tourism Economics, for instance, revised its 2025 forecast from an 8.8% growth to a 9.4% decline in international arrivals, with Canadian and Mexican visitors showing particularly sharp drops. Despite these challenges, some analysts suggest that major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup are "one-of-a-kind" and could help bolster U.S. perception and attendance, potentially overriding broader negative trends in 2026.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with the final set to be held at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. While the tournament's unique global appeal may mitigate some of the forecasted tourism dips, the extent to which international fans will travel remains a key concern for organizers and host cities.