In the hours leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff, anticipated surges in travel and tourism across the United States and host cities remain subdued, confounding expectations for one of the world’s largest sporting events. Industry experts and local officials report weaker-than-expected demand for flights, hotels, and match tickets, citing high costs, logistical challenges, and visa restrictions as key deterrents.

Traditionally, World Cups generate substantial economic benefits by attracting international fans who travel extensively and spend heavily to support their teams. However, this year’s tournament, spread across 16 cities in three countries, has seen a departure from that model. Flight bookings from Europe into most U.S. host cities for June and July are down 3.8 percent year-over-year, with bookings into New York—a host of the July 19 final—declining nearly 16 percent, according to travel analytics firm Cirium. These figures come despite Europeans scaling back travel to the United States last year.

The Hotel Association of New York City has sharply lowered its estimates for revenue linked to the event, cutting forecasts by 60 percent to about $60 million. Association CEO Vijay Dandapani described the situation as “overall a disappointment” but noted a slight recent increase in bookings from the United Kingdom and Norway. Some hotels, including the New York Hilton Midtown, have reduced room rates by half to attract visitors amid softer demand.

High ticket prices have been identified as a significant factor stifling enthusiasm. Organizers have implemented record-high base prices and, for the first time, introduced dynamic pricing, causing ticket costs to escalate as the tournament progresses. The cheapest tickets in major cities like New York and Miami now hover near $1,000, further limiting accessibility. The combination of expensive tickets, visa hurdles for fans from more than half of the qualified countries, and complex travel logistics discourages many potential attendees.

Visa complications have also posed challenges. Stricter U.S. immigration enforcement and prior instances such as the denial of entry to a Somali referee over alleged ties to terror organizations have heightened travel uncertainty. This has prompted some fans, including affluent supporters who often bolster travel-related revenues, to postpone bookings pending clearer tournament outcomes.

Alternative accommodation options like vacation rentals have fared better, with firms such as Airbnb reporting strong demand, particularly in budget and economy segments. Data from AirDNA shows higher bookings and rising average daily rates for short-term rentals in host cities including Boston and Los Angeles. Jamie Lane, AirDNA’s chief economist, highlighted increased leisure demand attributable to the World Cup despite challenges in other travel sectors.

Some observers say fans are opting out of attending matches in person altogether. Andy Milne, a noted England supporter, remarked that friends have chosen to watch games from destinations like Ibiza or Las Vegas to avoid the steep costs associated with tickets, travel, and local transportation.

As the group stage concludes, organizers and industry players are hoping for a last-minute surge in bookings, but prevailing conditions—marked by elevated prices and logistical complexity—indicate that the expected tourism windfall may not fully materialize this year. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) declined to comment on the ongoing circumstances.