US hotels and tourism operators are expressing growing doubts about the economic boom promised by next month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite forecasts of billions of dollars in revenue and record global audiences.
Gianni Infantino has described the expanded tournament as the equivalent of “104 Super Bowls,” predicting a cumulative global audience of six billion viewers and an economic impact of US$30.5 billion for the three host nations the United States, Canada and Mexico.
But a new survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association suggests the anticipated tourism surge may not fully materialise in the United States.
The report, based on responses from more than 200 hotels across the 11 US host cities, found that nearly 80 percent said bookings were tracking below initial expectations just weeks before the tournament begins on June 11.
Hotels in cities including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta and Philadelphia cited weak international demand, visa delays and geopolitical uncertainty as key reasons for slower-than-expected reservations.
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Some respondents described the tournament as a “non-event” from a business perspective, with booking levels in certain cities reportedly below normal summer trends.
Industry concerns have also been fuelled by changes to accommodation agreements with FIFA.
In March, FIFA reportedly cancelled thousands of reserved hotel rooms across host cities after activating contractual opt-out clauses to adjust room allocations.
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A FIFA spokesperson defended the move, saying room releases were conducted according to agreed timelines and were standard practice for an event of this scale.
The 2026 tournament is the first World Cup since 2002 to be hosted by multiple countries and will feature 48 teams in an expanded format.
FIFA estimates overall spending linked to the competition could exceed US$13.9 billion, with the United States alone expected to spend more than US$11 billion on hosting costs.
However, economists and sports analysts have questioned whether such projections are realistic.
An analysis by Oxford Economics projected only temporary gains in sectors such as hospitality and leisure, warning that long-term economic benefits may be limited.
The tournament also arrives during a period of global travel uncertainty linked partly to the ongoing Iran conflict, which has disrupted aviation routes and driven up fuel prices.
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According to reports cited by analysts, the average price of some transcontinental flights more than doubled between February and March as airlines adjusted to rising operating costs.
Fans attending matches in the United States also face steep ticket prices.
Tickets for some matches exceed $1,000, while seats for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey have reportedly approached $33,000 on resale platforms.
Even US President Donald Trump criticised the pricing, telling local media he would not personally pay such amounts for tickets.
FIFA has defended its pricing structure, saying lower-cost ticket categories remain available for all matches, including the final.
Sports economist Lisa Delpy Neirotti said global sporting events often generate inflated expectations about economic returns.
While acknowledging the tournament would bring increased spending and tourism, she cautioned that projections frequently overstate long-term gains.
Analysts say that although the World Cup is unlikely to become an economic failure, the eventual impact may fall short of the optimistic forecasts promoted ahead of the competition.
