By Jon Fasman, Senior culture correspondent, The Economist
In 2022 the men’s football World Cup was hosted by Qatar—a country with no real footballing tradition, a deeply inhospitable climate and just eight stadiums (seven of them built after it was awarded the tournament). Russia, not renowned for its warmth or the abundance of tourist-friendly destinations, hosted the one before that. So, when America, Canada and Mexico jointly won the rights in 2018 to host the 2026 World Cup, many officials within fifa, football’s international governing body, must have breathed a sigh of relief.
But that was before the Trump administration began locking up tourists for minor violations, making some tourist-visa applicants post $15,000 bonds or snatching foreign students off the street for things they had said about politics. It was also before Donald Trump began threatening the other two host countries, and using the armed forces to blow up boats in the Caribbean sea that he claims were smuggling drugs. Will fans still come to the 2026 World Cup, or will it be an embarrassing bust?
First, the bear case. Foreign arrivals at American airports fell by about 4% in 2025, compared with 2024, according to figures from the International Trade Administration, a government agency. At the 2025 Club World Cup, a fifa tournament held across America, just 57% of seats were filled in the group stage. There may also be concerns about law and order at games. A year earlier, the final of the Copa America in Miami was chaotic, with crowds breaching stadium security. In one semi-final, Uruguayan players fought drunken fans in the stands.
No World Cup has ever had three host countries, and a smooth tournament will require co-operation. But Mr Trump has threatened to move games out of cities he deems “not safe”. He has also banned citizens of 12 countries—including Iran, which is a participant—from entering the United States (though players are exempt). Fans, especially undocumented ones, among America’s huge local Hispanic fan base, may also stay away, concerned that immigration authorities will show up at games.
But then there’s the bull case. The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994, two years before Major League Soccer (mls), the country’s professional league, played its first game. As it turned out, 1994 was fifa’s most successful World Cup to date, setting records for per-game and total attendance.
Today the home-grown fan base is much deeper. There are 30 mls teams (including three in Canada) that draw an average of more than 23,000 fans per game. British and European league games are broadcast on television; in 2024, 50m Americans watched matches with no American teams involved.
Mr Trump declared during his speech to the un in September, “I hope you all come.” His cabinet officials have been somewhat less welcoming. “Go on a road trip. See America,” said Sean Duffy, the transport secretary. “Don’t stay too long.” ■