No World Cup Bump: U.S. Tourism Down in June

Key Points

• Overall June international arrivals fell 1.8% year-over-year to 2.8 million, and foreign air passenger arrivals were essentially flat (0.2%), showing the World Cup did not lift aggregate inbound travel.
• The tournament boosted arrivals from specific competing nations (UK +17%, Ecuador +50%, Colombia +21.4%) but many key markets declined sharply, including South Korea (-30.9%), Germany (~-20%), Italy, France, Argentina, Brazil, and Ireland.
• Host-market hotel occupancy was soft, but visitors spent more (RevPAR gains and a 5% rise in card spending in host cities), and some expect stronger demand in the later tournament rounds through July 19.

Summary

New U.S. government data indicate that the World Cup failed to lift overall international arrivals in June, which fell 1.8% year-over-year to 2.8 million, with foreign air passenger arrivals essentially flat at 0.2% growth. While the tournament — hosted across 11 U.S. stadiums plus venues in Mexico and Canada — clearly boosted visitation from certain competing nations (UK up nearly 17%, Ecuador up over 50%, Colombia up 21.4%), many other source markets saw steep declines, including Germany (down ~20%), South Korea (down 30.9%), Italy, France, Argentina, Brazil, and Ireland. Preliminary figures exclude Mexico and Canada, though Canadian return trips from the U.S. remained sharply down (28.7%) versus June 2024. Industry voices such as Truist and Delta downplayed the tournament's near-term impact, and host-market hotel occupancy has been soft — though visitors who did come spent more, with RevPAR gains and a 5% rise in card spending in host cities. Some anticipate stronger demand for the tournament's later rounds through July 19.