Before the war in the Middle East, the United States was one of the few destinations to see a decline in the number of foreign tourists. Hoteliers are counting on the 78 World Cup matches, taking place in eleven cities across the country from mid-June, to partially reverse this trend.
The United States, led by Trump, is repelling certain categories of foreign tourists, but one in particular could overlook the personality of the American president: football fans. The 2026 World Cup, jointly organized by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will take place from June 11 to July 19. Hoteliers are relying heavily on soccer to win back visitors from other countries.
According to FIFA, in addition to the approximately seven million spectators in the stadiums, this extraordinary tournament (78 matches in the United States) will attract 20 to 30 million tourists. This could generate $30 billion (€25.86 billion) for the American economy. However, these estimates were made before the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, the impact of which on travel flows is still impossible to evaluate.
7% Fewer French Tourists
Ahead of the World Cup, there is a performance that the American president does not boast about. His country was the only major tourist destination to decline last year, far from the double-digit growth observed elsewhere. In the first eleven months of 2025, the number of foreign visitors decreased by 5.4%, according to official statistics.
Canadians spectacularly missed the call: almost -22%, around four million fewer people compared to 2024. The decline is just over 7% for the French.
Professionals see, not always openly, an effect of Trump: tariffs, diatribes against foreign countries, changes in entry conditions into the country, presenting certain cities (held by the opposition) as being plagued by crime…
“When speaking of Canadians, many of them explain that they have chosen as a matter of principle not to go to the United States,” recounts Meade Atkeson, reminding AFP that the president wanted to make their country the 51st American state. Mr. Atkeson manages three Sonesta group hotels, two in the American capital and one in Miami Beach.
Las Vegas in Freefall
In the resort city, it was Brazilians who failed, “travelers with a lot of money who may have gone to Europe, rather than Florida. Foreign visitors “stay longer and spend more, so it’s hard for us when international tourism is declining,” observes the manager.
Thousands of kilometers away, Las Vegas (Nevada, west) and its 150,000 hotel rooms also had a poor year. Elsa Rodan is a maid at the Bellagio, one of the most famous establishments with its grandiose fountains.
According to her, in terms of attendance, the hotel is “shining” compared to others. But it too had to lower its prices to attract people, this was reported by a Unite Here union representative during a press conference in Washington.
$6.7 Billion Revenue Loss
The president of Unite Here, Gwen Mills, has called for a rebound, stating that the executive’s policies and rhetoric are endangering a sector that employs over two million people. According to her, hoteliers are not challenging the executive enough, “as if they were afraid of retaliation.”
Fewer visitors, fewer nights, less revenue… This led to a revenue loss of $6.7 billion for Nevada hotels in 2025, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA).
The organization hopes that 2026 will mark a recovery. It is particularly relying on the appeal of the World Cup (June 11-19) taking place in eleven cities across the United States.
“Like a Super Bowl”
Hoteliers “believe that each of them will be like a Super Bowl,” the spokesman for AHLA, Ralph Posner, told AFP. “Even outside host cities, our members have high hopes for the World Cup.”
Las Vegas is looking to attract supporters who will stop by before or after a match in Los Angeles or Kansas City. “I hope this year will be better,” says Meade Atkeson. Miami is a welcoming city but its hotel will be undergoing renovations and will not be able to host much World Cup-related activity.
In Washington, establishments highlight their proximity to Philadelphia, where five group matches and a round of 16 will take place on July 4, Independence Day. “We’ll see.”
[Context: The article discusses the impact of tourism in the United States, particularly focusing on factors like the decline in foreign visitors, the upcoming 2026 World Cup, and how hoteliers are looking at events like the World Cup to drive tourism and revenue.]
[Fact Check: The information in the article is based on statistics, estimates, and statements from industry professionals. The impact of political decisions, global events, and tourism trends are highlighted as factors affecting the tourism industry.]
