The 2026 World Cup is on track to shatter its all-time attendance record, but U.S. venues warn that insufficient travelers may lead to falling short of economic projections.
FIFA dropped ticket prices in late April at the “50 days away” mark and has sold more than 5 million tickets. The tournament’s projected attendance now exceeds the 3.5 million figure set at the 1994 World Cup.
Nearly 80% of hotels report bookings are below initial forecasts, with just over 6 million tickets available — representing approximately 80% of seats purchased.
