U.S. cities will see big tourism boost from World Cup, analysis predicts

MoneyWatch U.S. cities will see big tourism boost from World Cup, analysis predicts .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-moneywatch.jpg'); } By Megan Cerullo Megan Cerullo Reporter, MoneyWatch Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News 24/7 to discuss her reporting. Read Full Bio Megan Cerullo November 25, 2025 / 5:31 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Soccer fans traveling to the U.S. to watch the 2026 World Cup being held in North America will drive tourism spending in 11 host cities and provide a substantial boost to local economies, according to Tourism Economics, a provider of global travel data. The global soccer tournament, held every four years, is expected to draw 1.2 million international visitors, including spectators and their non-ticketed travel companions, national team representatives, match officials, and others, according to Tourism Economics.The tournament kicks off on June 12 in Los Angeles. Seventy-eight matches will be played across 11 U.S. cities, with an additional 26 games set to take place in Mexico and Canada. The finals will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19. The U.S. metro areas scheduled to host matches, according to FIFA: Atlanta; Boston; Dallas; Houston; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Miami; New York/New Jersey; Philadelphia; San Francisco Bay Area; and Seattle. The U.S. stands to benefit from an uptick in visitors next year after a sluggish year for international tourism in 2025, according to Tourism Economics. Researchers said foreigners' negative perceptions of the Trump administration's trade policies likely weighed on tourism in the U.S. this year. In 2025, the U.S. saw a 6.3% decline in international visitors. The firm forecasts 3.7% growth in international vi...