The (Tourism) Winners of the World Cup Draw
Photo Credit: MetLife Stadium - seen here during a Copa America match - will host the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Wikimedia Commons / SachinDaluja
Skift Take
The World Cup’s 16 host cities are banking on the tournament to boost summer tourism. But some fans are expected to travel more than others.
Six months ahead of the World Cup, the tournament’s 16 host cities have a clearer picture of which countries’ fans will be filling their stadiums.
FIFA on Saturday released an updated schedule revealing each match’s assigned cities and kick-off time. The release comes one day after the World Cup draw, which laid out the group matchups for the first round of games.
The reveal was long awaited by the tournament’s host cities, with the World Cup expected to be among the largest tourism events of 2026. More than 100 matches will be played across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19, drawing in players and fans from around the world.
World Cup Draw Winners (in Tourism)A recent Tourism Economics report found 10 countries should have an “outsized potential” to spur U.S. hotel bookings during the tournament:
England France Brazil Argentina Portugal Germany Spain Colombia Ital
