U.S. World Cup's $30.5 Billion Boom Hinges on Late Foreign Fans as Visa Rules Slow Arrivals
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 11
U.S. World Cup's $30.5 Billion Boom Hinges on Late Foreign Fans as Visa Rules Slow Arrivals
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 11
Summary
$30.5 billion in projected U.S. economic output from the 48-team, 104-game World Cup is at risk because international visitation and hotel demand in host cities are running below expectations.
40% of visitors were assumed to be international travelers, and they spend about four times more per trip than domestic fans, making foreign arrivals critical to the tournament's GDP payoff.
42 Visa Waiver Program countries can get U.S. travel approval online in about 72 hours, but fans from Argentina, Brazil and Morocco still need $185 visa interviews and face waits of roughly 15 to 30 days.
33 days remain until the semifinals and 38 until the final, leaving a narrow window for the late-booking surge that often follows deep runs by teams such as Argentina, England, Brazil and Germany.
More than a quarter of participating countries also face travel bans, tighter restrictions or high rejection rates, reinforcing concerns that the U.S. is seen abroad as a harder, less welcoming World Cup host.