Foreign fans boycott 2026 World Cup, hurting US hotel bookings and economic gains

Foreign soccer fans are largely boycotting the 2026 World Cup, causing hotel bookings in US host cities to fall far below expectations despite over 5 million tickets sold. Visa delays, high airfares, a strong dollar, and geopolitical tensions have deterred international travelers, who typically spend much more than domestic tourists. This shortfall threatens the anticipated $30 billion economic boost and 200,000 jobs predicted by earlier analyses. Hotels in most cities are seeing significant booking drops, with only Atlanta and Miami holding steady, prompting calls for faster visa processing and tax relief to salvage the event's economic potential.