The 2026 FIFA World Cup is struggling to live up to rosy economic expectations, as a vast majority of hoteliers say bookings are lagging initial projections, with just over one month until the start of the tournament.
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Across 11 U.S. host cities, 80% of respondents surveyed by the American Hotel and Lodging Association say bookings are tracking below initial forecasts. Roughly two-thirds of respondents across markets say visa barriers and geopolitical concerns are significantly reducing demand from international travelers and are the top barrier to tournament-driven travel.
FIFA also overcommitted to blocks of rooms before later slashing them, which created an "artificial early demand signal," the AHLA said in its release. About half of the host market respondents reported "material room block releases."
"A range of factors have tempered early optimism, though forward indicators show there is still meaningful opportunity ahead," AHLA President and CEO Rosanna Maietta said in a statement. "To fully realize that potential, the U.S. and FIFA must ensure a welcoming and seamless experience for international travelers."
Domestic travelers are outpacing international travelers, according to the AHLA.
Kansas City hoteliers are bearing the brunt of the impact, with about 85% of AHLA respondents reporting booking pace is below expectations, trailing typical June or July without major events. Almost 80% of respondents in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle say pacing is behind a typical summer, with many describing the tournament as a "non-event."
The Atlanta and Miami markets are faring best, with about half of operators in both cities reporting booking pace in line with or ahead of expectations and ahead of a typical June or July. In Atlanta, demand has been driven by team-based camps and strong air connectivity, while Miami has benefited from World Cup-adjacent leisure demand.
The Trump administration has made it more difficult for international travelers to enter the country on multiple fronts.
The U.S. conflict in Iran has spiked jet fuel prices and made travel more expensive. Jet fuel was at $4.26 per gallon as of Monday, up from $2.42 per gallon on Feb. 26, before the U.S. initiated the Iranian conflict, according to Argus.
President Donald Trump also stopped offering tourist visas to residents of 39 countries, including Haiti, Iran, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, whose teams are participating in the tournament. The president has also blocked immigration visas for players from 15 countries competing in the World Cup.
“Fans who cannot get a visa or who fear the entry process will simply watch from home or go to matches in Canada and Mexico instead,” Suraj Bhakta, CEO of hospitality-focused brokerage NewGen Advisory, told Bisnow last month.
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