The 2026 FIFA World Cup could be underattended as it emerges international fans have not followed through on initial interest for tickets, and there is a significant disparity between ticket requests and travel bookings across U.S. Cities.
Although there have been over 5 million tickets already bought for the expanded event, data obtained by the American Hotel & Lodging Association shows that nearly 80 percent of hotel owners in nine out of the 11 U.S. Cities still expecting to host are booking far lower than they predicted during the early stages of tournament planning, and worries of the much-anticipated economic boon may prove to be a miscalculation.
Among the numerous factors deterring international fan attendance are lengthy visa wait times, issues surrounding U.S. Immigration policy, inflated air travel prices, and a strong U.S. Dollar. These have collectively steered a large number of supporters away, as domestic fans still clamor for tickets.
Another issue highlighted by the report includes FIFA releasing huge quantities of previously reserved hotel room blocks back to the open market, prompting mass cancellations across major hotel brands and making operators anxious and less eager for the event.
High prices in ticket procurement could also be a factor. Some game tickets have reportedly been selling for far more than in past years of the competition. While it’s still a sell-out in paper, this hasn’t translated to increased spending in the hospitality sector.
While certain cities such as Atlanta and Miami have maintained a strong booking performance throughout this period, other locations such as New York, Boston, and San Francisco have yet to meet the expectations of their predicted performance. These stakeholders believe that without last-minute international travelers flocking to the U.S., the overall financial benefit of the event might not be what they’d planned.
As the event begins in June 2026, players in the industry now have one mission: to streamline visa processing and encourage international travel to capitalize on the tournament.
