"Let's Go to Canada" — World Cup Fans Are SKIPPING Trump's America for Canadian Stadiums

World Cup 2026 Faces Early Backlash as Fans Skip U.S. Matches and Head for Canada

WASHINGTON / TORONTO — When FIFA awarded the 2026 World Cup to the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it was billed as the biggest sporting event in history and a landmark moment for North American soft power.

With 78 matches in the United States alone, 11 host cities, and projections of up to 10 million international visitors, American officials spoke confidently about a $40 billion economic windfall and a global showcase moment.

“We can’t wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe,” President Donald Trump said in a statement highlighted on the State Department’s official website.

But just days after kickoff, a very different picture is emerging.

More than 176,000 tickets remain unsold across opening group-stage matches. Hotel rates in multiple U.S. host cities are being revised downward. International flight bookings to the United States are down an estimated 14% year-over-year during the tournament window.

And perhaps most strikingly, the fans who are traveling are not evenly distributed.

They are concentrating in Canada.

Toronto and Vancouver—the tournament’s two Canadian host cities—are reporting stronger-than-expected demand, fuller stadium environments, and higher international engagement than several major U.S. venues.

The early contrast is raising a central question: how did the United States, host of the largest share of World Cup matches, become the weaker draw in a tournament it was expected to dominate economically?

A Tournament Already Defined by Absence

The 2026 World Cup officially kicked off at Mexico City’s historic Estadio Azteca. On the pitch, the competition is underway. Off the pitch, however, the defining storyline of the opening week has been who is not there.

Not in stadium seats. Not in airport arrivals. Not in fan zones.

And in some cases, not even allowed to enter the country.

Multiple qualified nations are subject to U.S. travel restrictions that have complicated or blocked fan attendance entirely. At least four participating countries face full travel bans that prevent supporters from entering the United States even if their teams are competing.

Among them are Haiti, Iran, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal.

While players have received exemptions to compete, many fans have not.

That distinction has become one of the most controversial aspects of the tournament’s opening days.

The Referee Who Never Made It In

One of the earliest flashpoints involved Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a respected Somali referee selected by FIFA to officiate at the tournament.

Artan, widely regarded as one of Africa’s top officials after being named CAF Best Male Referee of 2025, was denied entry upon arrival at Miami International Airport. U.S. officials cited security-related concerns involving alleged associations with suspected extremist-linked individuals, though no detailed public evidence was provided.

FIFA confirmed he would not participate in the tournament and has since returned to Istanbul.

The decision immediately sparked criticism across football circles, not only because of the individual case, but because of what it symbolized: a FIFA-appointed official excluded from a FIFA World Cup hosted in the United States.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino acknowledged the incident but minimized its broader implications.

“It is unfortunate what happened,” he said at a press conference in Mexico City. “But we don’t control everything.”

The response did little to calm concerns among supporters and analysts who see the visa and entry system as a defining issue of the tournament’s opening week.

Visa Barriers, Border Denials, and Fan Frustration

Artan’s case is not isolated.

Multiple federation staff members, journalists, and ticket holders have reported visa complications or denied entry at U.S. borders.

Iran’s national team has been particularly affected. Officials say their delegation has been instructed to enter the United States only one day before matches, a restriction that severely limits preparation time. At least 15 members of the team’s staff were impacted by entry complications or denials, forcing the squad to base itself in Tijuana and cross the border for fixtures.

Supporters from Morocco, despite holding tickets, were denied visas in significant numbers. Journalists from Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal reported difficulties obtaining credentials needed to follow their national teams.

Human rights organizations have raised concerns about what they describe as a “restrictive and unpredictable” entry environment.

“The United States has created a hostile environment for players, fans, and journalists,” Human Rights Watch said, citing fears among travelers about border searches and social media screening.

In some cases, even accredited journalists have been denied multi-entry visas required to follow matches across multiple cities.

Empty Seats and the Ticket Problem

Inside stadiums, another issue has become increasingly visible: attendance gaps.

A group-stage match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara was officially listed at nearly 45,000 attendees in a 46,000-seat stadium. Yet broadcast images showed significant sections of empty seating.

FIFA attributed the discrepancy to “no-shows”—fans who purchased tickets but did not attend.

While no-shows are common in large sporting events, the scale of visible empty seating has become a recurring point of criticism.

Across the opening group stage, an estimated 176,000 tickets remained unsold on FIFA’s resale platform in the days leading up to kickoff.

The organization has since released additional inventory in an effort to fill stadiums, but analysts argue that the underlying issue is not last-minute availability—it is pricing.

Dynamic pricing models and elevated resale values have pushed the cost of attending many matches far beyond what mid-tier international fans can reasonably afford.

Canada’s Unexpected Advantage

While U.S. venues are facing uneven attendance and softer demand, Canada’s two host cities are telling a different story.

Toronto and Vancouver, which together host 13 matches, are reporting strong tourism activity and more stable ticket uptake among international fans.

Industry observers note that fans who are hesitant about U.S. entry policies or travel complexity are increasingly shifting their attention north.

The Action Network ranked both Toronto and Vancouver among the top host cities for fan experience, citing accessibility, transport infrastructure, and ease of entry as key advantages.

The contrast has been particularly visible among European and South American fans, many of whom are opting to attend matches in Canada rather than navigate U.S. visa uncertainty or security concerns.

Immigration Enforcement and Fan Anxiety

Another factor shaping attendance behavior in the United States is the visible presence of immigration enforcement at major events.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that ICE agents will be present at World Cup stadiums as part of broader security operations.

That announcement followed months of reporting on immigration enforcement actions in major cities, including incidents that raised concerns among immigrant communities.

At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, workers reportedly negotiated strike protections that would allow them to leave if they felt unsafe due to enforcement activity near their workplace.

For many international fans, especially those from countries affected by travel restrictions or heightened scrutiny, the presence of immigration enforcement at stadiums has contributed to hesitation about attending matches in person.

A German fan interviewed by CNN said he chose to avoid U.S. matches entirely.

“I don’t feel like anyone would protect me,” he said, citing concerns about being profiled due to his appearance.

Tourism Decline Precedes the Tournament

The World Cup is taking place against a broader backdrop of declining U.S. tourism performance.

In 2025, the United States was one of the only major global destinations to see a decline in foreign visitors, down approximately 6%, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

International visitor spending fell 4.6% to $176 billion. Canadian travel alone dropped sharply, with January 2026 arrivals down nearly 30% year-over-year.

Airlines have responded accordingly. WestJet cut U.S. routes. Air Transat exited Florida routes entirely. European bookings to the United States for summer travel are down more than 14%.

The World Cup, which was expected to reverse these trends, has so far not produced the anticipated surge.

Canada’s Stronger Relative Performance

In contrast, Canada’s tourism and hospitality sector has shown relative strength during the tournament window.

Toronto and Vancouver have seen steadier booking trends and more consistent international arrivals tied specifically to World Cup travel.

While Canada is hosting a smaller share of matches, analysts note that its cities are benefiting from both domestic demand and international fans who are choosing Canada over the United States.

The result is a striking imbalance: a tournament designed as a shared North American showcase is producing uneven economic outcomes across its host nations.

Economic Expectations vs. Reality

FIFA projected that the tournament would generate nearly $14 billion in expenditures and up to $40 billion in total economic activity.

U.S. officials forecasted up to 10 million visitors.

Early indicators suggest those projections may be difficult to achieve in full, particularly within the United States.

Hotel operators report occupancy below forecast in most major host cities. International bookings are softer than expected. And airline data suggests fewer inbound travelers than projected in key long-haul markets.

While it is still early in the tournament, the gap between expectations and reality is already drawing attention from economists and industry analysts.

A Tournament Defined by Contradictions

On the field, the World Cup is progressing as expected. Matches are being played, goals are being scored, and global attention remains fixed on the competition itself.

Off the field, however, the tournament has become a case study in logistical friction, pricing sensitivity, and political influence on global mobility.

Fans who were supposed to fill stadiums are instead encountering barriers. Others are choosing to attend matches in Canada rather than the United States. And many more are watching from afar after calculating that travel costs, entry uncertainty, and logistical complexity outweigh the experience.