US Travel Association warns “we’re not ready” for World Cup

With little over a year to go until the 2026 World Cup comes to the United States, there is major concern that the country is not ready to host the global extravaganza.

The FIFA tournament is just one of a series of major events coming up in the next few years, including the 2025 Ryder Cup, the Olympic Games in 2028 and the US' 250th birthday in 2026.

A report released by the US Travel Association on Wednesday warns that outdated national infrastructure, visa processes and security technology are presenting major obstacles to organisers. The account was written by former government officials and industry experts and paints a bleak picture of the work still to be done.

“We’re not ready to host the upcoming mega decade of events that will draw millions of domestic and international travelers. This poses risks to our national security and hampers economic growth,” the US Travel Association explained.

Geoff Freeman, CEO and president of US Travel, reports that in 2024 there were five days on which TSA officials screened more than 3 million passengers. In 2028, there could be around 100 days that hit that threshold.

“The message today is clear,” Freeman said in a news conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. “The status quo is not an option.”

“The president has been outspoken about making this the gold standard of World Cups, the best Olympics that has ever been held,” he continued. “To do those things, to achieve those goals, you’ve got to make some of these investments.”

Visitors from some nations are already experiencing wait times of up to 700 days for visas, a major deterrent for fans hoping to support their team at the 2026 World Cup. Freeman revealed to ESPN that the group have tried to get in touch with the White House to help improve the systems ahead of the tournament but those attempts have fallen on deaf ears so far.

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