FIFA World Cup 2026: Over the past year or so, the U.S. tourism industry has faced a major downturn. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism brought an impressive $2.36 trillion to the American economy in 2023. However, things have changed dramatically since then.
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Tourism Economics now predicts that international tourism will decline by 9.4% in 2024. And 2025—a complete reversal from its earlier forecast of a 9% increase. A big reason for this drop is the growing political tension surrounding the current U.S. administration.
Many wealthy international travelers are skipping the United States altogether. Choosing destinations like Canada instead. Many Canadians have decided to boycott the U.S. after President Trump’s controversial 51st state remarks.
This shift represents a major blow to the American tourism sector, as Canada alone accounts for about 26% of all international tourism to the U.S. In 2024, Canadian visitors spent roughly $20.5 billion in the U.S., according to the U.S. Travel Association. Despite these setbacks, there appeared to be a potential bright spot for the future of American tourism in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The World Cup is widely regarded as the biggest sporting event in the world, drawing millions of fans from every continent. A study by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) found that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar added up to $4.1 billion in tourism-related spending to the Qatari economy.
FIFA 2026: U.S. Matches Far Costlier Than Canada and Mexico
Similarly, during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, around one million international tourists visited the country. Bringing an estimated $3 billion into its economy. Clearly, the World Cup can have a massive economic impact.
The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has been highly anticipated and closely watched. Many were curious about how the three-country format would work in practice, especially with differing visa rules and political climates.
For example, while players have been granted special permissions to travel. The U.S. has implemented visa restrictions for fans from certain countries. On top of that, political tensions—both domestic and between the host nations have raised questions about the overall atmosphere of the event.
Adding to the debate are the newly revealed ticket prices. Until recently, the prices for FIFA World Cup games were kept secret. However, a few fans who gained early access took screenshots and shared them online, exposing a wide range of costs that left many supporters stunned.
Fans quickly noticed that tickets for games in the U.S. were far more expensive than those in Mexico or Canada, sparking frustration and disappointment. Some fans have even suggested that traveling to Canada or Mexico to watch matches would be a far more affordable and enjoyable experience.
FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer for the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament. Heimo Schirgi acknowledged this issue in an interview with ESPN, emphasizing that fans who want the best deals will need to buy tickets early.
FIFA World Cup: Resale Market Pushes Prices Beyond $30,000
Like other major sporting events, World Cup ticket prices typically start low for group stage matches and rise steadily through the knockout rounds, peaking with the final. While that structure remains, this time there are major discrepancies between prices in different host cities and countries.
One major reason for this is that the FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first to use dynamic pricing. This means ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, similar to airline or hotel rates. As a result, prices in high-demand cities have skyrocketed.
Fans eager to watch their home countries play are being hit with steep costs, especially if they weren’t among the first to secure tickets. The final, set to take place in New Jersey, has already sold out. The highest official ticket price for the final was $6,730, not including luxury hospitality packages.
Which haven’t been released yet. On resale sites, some of these tickets have already been listed for as much as $38,000. When comparing ticket prices across the three host nations, U.S. games are by far the most expensive on average.
Critics argue this is partly because there are more matches in the U.S., which increases the influence of dynamic pricing. However, even when looking at the opening matches, which should all start at about $60 for the lowest Category 4 ticket prices, they have soared due to fans. Desire to be part of the excitement of the tournament’s opening days.
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