Just hours before the opening whistle of the World Cup, the anticipated surge in global travel and tourism has yet to take shape, with high ticket prices emerging as a major barrier keeping fans away.
Across host cities in the United States, early indicators show a softer-than-expected influx of international visitors.
Hotels that had prepared for a rush of bookings are instead lowering prices as occupancy levels fall below projections.
Air travel demand has also weakened.
Flight reservations from key regions, particularly Europe, have dropped compared to previous years, despite the traditional pattern of fans travelling in large numbers to follow the tournament.
Even major entry points like New York are seeing significantly fewer bookings than forecast.
Industry analysts say the combination of rising costs, complex travel logistics, and stricter visa requirements is dampening enthusiasm.
With matches spread across multiple cities and three countries, the financial burden on travelling supporters has increased sharply.
However, the biggest concern for many fans remains ticket pricing. Organisers introduced some of the highest base prices in tournament history, alongside dynamic pricing that increased costs as match dates approached.
A controversial resale system without strict price caps has further driven up secondary market rates.
As a result, even standard entry tickets in major cities such as New York and Miami are now reportedly close to $1,000, putting live matches out of reach for many ordinary supporters.
Analysts warn that even potential last-minute price drops may not be enough to revive demand, given the additional costs of travel, accommodation, and documentation.
Visa restrictions have also added uncertainty, with supporters from more than half of qualified nations requiring entry clearance. Concerns over stricter immigration checks have further discouraged some travellers from making the journey.
While traditional tourism sectors struggle, short-term rental platforms have seen a different trend.
Cities like Boston and Los Angeles are recording stronger booking activity, with hosts increasing prices to take advantage of limited late demand.
Average rental costs have risen significantly in the lead-up to the tournament.
Despite pockets of activity, the overall picture suggests that the expected World Cup travel boom has been muted, with soaring ticket prices standing out as one of the key factors limiting the global fan turnout.
