The Trump administration has a clear message for foreign fans of the 2026 World Cup: come, spend, and leave. Vice President JD Vance said it bluntly at an event with Trump and the FIFA president: those who do not leave the country when their matches are over “will have to speak” with immigration authorities. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was just as direct: “Visit the United States, but do not stay beyond the time authorized by your visa.”
For many, the message is a brutal contradiction. It is projected that 1,2 million foreign visitors will spend more than 11.000 billion dollars and generate 185.000 jobs. However, hotels in New York are already reporting low demand: 60% of hoteliers cite barriers for international travelers as a direct cause. In Los Angeles, demand is the same as in a normal summer, without the World Cup.
Is it legitimate to demand that tourists respect immigration rules, or is the government biting the hand that feeds it just when it most needs foreign money?.
