Apr 18, 2026
FIFA projected its World Cup Tournament would inject the United States with a $30.5 billion economic (1) boost. With the start of the tournament just weeks away, some are questioning whether that prediction was accurate.
Hotels in 11 U.S. host cities are reportedly slashing room rates after the demand they anticipated failed to arrive (2). FIFA has already begun canceling tens of thousands of reserved rooms across the country, and industry insiders are pointing to a surge in anti-American sentiment — fueled in part by the current political climate — as a major driver of the shortfall.
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"I'm seeing a lot of people start to panic and lower their rates," Scott Yesner, founder of Philadelphia-based Bespoke Stay, told the Financial Times. (3)
The FIFA World Cup is set to start on June 11th and run through July 19th (4) as 48 soccer teams from around the world compete to become the FIFA World Cup Championship. While the tournament occurs across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, 11 of the 16 locations (5) are based in the United States.
The 'Trump Slump' is getting worse
Tourism to the U.S. has dropped dramatically. Overseas visitor volume to the United States dropped 4.2% in January (6) compared to the previous year, according to the U.S. Commerce Department's National Travel and Tourism Office — the ninth consecutive month of decline.
Canadian travelers dropped 22% year over year (7), and there's little sign of a rebound. Airline bookings from Europe to the U.S. for peak summer are down more than 14% year over year (8), per aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Lior Sekler, chief commercial officer at hotel operator HRI Hospitality, told the Financial Times the Trump administration deserves part of the blame. "Obviously, people's desire to come to the United States right now is down," Sekler said (9), pointing to the administration's immigration crackdown and its war on Iran.
Aran Ryan, director of industry studies at Tourism Economics, agreed, saying pre-existing anti-U.S. sentiment has been "made worse by the Iran war."
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FIFA is reportedly considering asking the Trump administrations to pause ICE raids during the tournament, according to the Athletic (10), a sign of just how concerned organizers are about traveler sentiment.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has reportedly built a close relationship with President Trump, with the pair posing for pictures together at various (11) events (12). In late 2025, Infantino presented Trump with the newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" (13) in late 2025. Trump has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, but has never won it. Infantino's newly created award may have been offered as a consolation (14).
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What this means for travelers and tourism-dependent businesses
For travelers, the lack of demand could be good news. With hotels cutting rates and inventory sitting empty, World Cup matches and summer travel to cities like New York, LA, Miami, and Chicago could be cheaper than expected. If you've been thinking about attending a match, now might be the time to book.
For businesses that rely on tourism, however, the picture is a bit bleaker. If your revenue relies on out of town visitors, it's time to get proactive. A few strategies to consider:
- Market to locals: Local and regional visitors may be able to fill the gap caused by fewer international travelers, so consider marketing closer to home.
- Lean into social: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have a global reach that traditional advertising—like billboards and flyers—can't beat. Your best bet is to reach international travelers before they finalize travel plans.
- Team up with other businesses: Cross promotional efforts can raise the profile of multiple businesses at once. Consider partnering with nearby hotels, restaurants, or attractions to help you reach visitors.
The broader situation doesn't just impact FIFA fans — it can impact the U.S. economy as a whole. While travelers might benefit, tourism-dependent businesses may need to recalibrate their plans fast.
Article sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
FIFA (1),(4),(5),(13); Financial Times (2),(3),(9); Inbound Travel (6); Global News (7); Travel Weekly (8); The New York Times (10); USA Today (11); Instagram (12); CNN (14)
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Danielle is a personal finance writer based in Ohio. Her work has appeared in numerous publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love.
