United States international tourism arrivals decline despite World Cup

International tourism arrivals to the United States have declined despite the impact of the FIFA World Cup. Data from the National Travel and Tourism Office shows that from January to July 2026, non-citizen arrivals fell by 3.5 percent year-over-year, totaling approximately 31.7 million passengers compared to 32.9 million in the same period in 2025.

July, which hosted the decisive stages of the World Cup, saw a 3 percent decrease in foreign arrivals compared to the previous year. Overseas market arrivals specifically dropped by 7 percent in July. Factors contributing to the lower-than-expected demand included high ticket prices, expensive accommodations, visa issues, and complex travel logistics across the 16 host cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico.