“Disappointment by all standards.” America’s hotels are empty during the World Cup

Despite the start of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday night, an expected recovery in travel and tourism in the US, the biggest sporting event of the year, has yet to materialize as high costs and difficulty in obtaining visas have dampened demand for the matches.

According to Reuters, the tournament has been expected for years to bring huge benefits to the US travel and tourism industry, which is currently suffering from a drop in visitors from outside the US in what rights groups describe as a “climate of fear”.

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The crowds of fans the hotels had been counting on haven’t arrived yet, forcing many to lower prices.

Flight bookings have fallen as ticket prices have skyrocketed, and sky-high game ticket prices have led to a further drop in demand.

More than half of fans from World Cup-qualifying nations need visas to enter the United States, raising costs and adding uncertainty for travelers already worried about tightening entry procedures.

In this regard, New York Hotel Association CEO Vijay Dandapani said: “It’s a disappointment by any standard, and I can’t find any other description,” adding that the association had cut expectations for World Cup-related hotel room revenue by 60% to about $60 million.