New data from the US National Travel and Tourism Office shows that the 2026 FIFA World Cup did not boost overall international arrivals in June. Total overseas visitor arrivals fell 1.8% year-over-year to 2.8 million, following a 3.4% decline in June 2025. Foreign air passenger arrivals saw minimal growth of just 0.2%.
Despite the overall downturn, some markets benefited from the tournament. Arrivals from the United Kingdom surged nearly 17% as England advanced. However, arrivals from Germany and South Korea declined despite their teams' presence in the tournament.
The data covers only the group stage and early knockout rounds; later rounds may still drive a surge. Additionally, the full picture will be clearer when data from Mexico and Canada, which also hosted matches, is included.
Skift Take: While visitors from markets like the United Kingdom surged, total overseas visitation for June was down from last year.