The United States is poised to host two major global sporting events in the next four years: the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics. These events are projected to attract a large influx of international tourists, offering the potential for a significant economic boost. However, with visa appointment wait times reaching over 850 days at some U.S. consulates, this opportunity for increased tourism and economic growth is at risk. Long delays in visa processing could severely limit the number of international visitors able to attend, diminishing the anticipated economic impact of these global events.
Sports tourism can significantly impact local economies through increased spending on hotels, airfare, dining, and other services. For example, the 2012 Olympics in London generated a 9% surge in overseas visitor spending. Similarly, the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro saw a 6.2% rise in tourism revenue, with job creation contributing 82% of the event’s local economic growth. In Paris, the 2024 Olympics resulted in dramatic increases in year-on-year spending: a 205% jump at theaters and museums, a 67% boost at restaurants, and a 53% rise in retail and fast food sales. Average prices for three- to five-star hotels spiked by as much as 64% during the event. Meanwhile, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar attracted over one million visitors and continued to drive tourism growth even after the event, with 2.56 million visitors in the first eight months of 2023 – exceeding the total arrivals for all of 2022. These examples demonstrate that the economic benefits of hosting major sporting events can extend far beyond the event’s duration, creating a lasting impact on the host city’s tourism industry.
Proximity plays a crucial role in sports tourism, often making neighboring countries a significant source of international attendees at major events like the Olympics and World Cup. For instance, Argentinian tourists accounted for 12% of all foreign visitors at the Rio Olympics, second only to Americans at 17%. Similarly, fans from Saudi Arabia were among the top five most represented tourist groups at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Even in cases where the home team is not competing, proximity remains influential; over 60,000 Chinese tourists traveled to Moscow for the 2018 World Cup despite China’s absence from the tournament.
To visit the United States as a tourist, most prospective visitors must apply for and obtain a B1/B2 visa (with exceptions for certain nationalities). This process usually entails an interview at a U.S. consulate. In many countries, wait times for the next available appointment can be lengthy. The table below highlights some notable wait times in countries that are expected to have a large presence at the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games in the U.S., such as China, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Germany.
Given Canada and Mexico’s proximity to the U.S., the expectation of significant attendance from these neighboring countries raises concerns about high visa wait times – currently exceeding a year. While Canadian nationals are visa-exempt, foreign residents living in Canada still need visas and face substantial delays in securing an appointment. Such long wait times not only discourage potential applicants but as of September 9, 2024, none of the six U.S. consulates in Canada accepting regular B-1/B-2 visa appointments have availability before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June of that year. This makes it virtually impossible for Canadian residents needing a visa and interview to attend unless they undertake the added inconvenience of securing an appointment in another country with shorter wait times.
Despite lengthy wait times in many countries, the situation has improved considerably from its post-pandemic peak, thanks in part to expanded interview waivers that have alleviated pressure on understaffed consulates. However, the next administration could choose to eliminate this program, potentially causing wait times to spike again. Long-term solutions are needed to ensure consular capacity keeps pace with demand. Proposals like the Visa Processing Improvement Act, which aims to increase consular staffing, establish wait time standards, and permanently extend these interview waivers – could create more predictability for both tourists and the U.S. tourism industry. The importance of such legislation will only increase as, under the glare of the global spotlight, the U.S. prepares to host millions of international visitors for these historic sporting events in the coming year.