International tourists are increasingly avoiding the 2026 World Cup in the United States, industry reports show, as visa delays, health policies associated with Robert F Kennedy Jr and rising anti-US sentiment combine to deter fans from travelling to the host cities. The trend is hardly a surprise given the combination of factors at play.
Hotel bookings in US venues are falling short of expectations, with 80 per cent of operators across the 11 host cities reporting reservations tracking below forecasts just five weeks before the tournament kicks off. This shortfall threatens a projected $30 billion (£22 billion) boost to the economy that organisers had anticipated from the event. Analysts warn that international fan turnout is lagging well behind domestic interest as the June start date looms.
