The world is coming to America for next summer’s World Cup. There are big concerns over whether the US is ready
CNN
The 2026 World Cup is still more than a year away, but top travel executives are warning the US could struggle to effectively stage the tournament unless big changes are made quickly.
The 2026 World Cup is still more than a year away, but top travel executives are warning the US could struggle to effectively stage the tournament unless big changes are made quickly. US Travel Association president and CEO Geoff Freeman and MGM Resorts International president and CEO William Hornbuckle told CNN Sport that they have real concerns about whether the US travel system is prepared to handle the influx of foreign travelers expected in next summer’s soccer extravaganza. The worries run the gamut. Lengthy wait times for fan visa approvals could discourage thousands from trying to come to the US for the tournament. Outdated technology and staffing shortages could lead to long waits for visitors who arrive in the US to clear customs. Long lines to get through security could potentially snake all the way outside of airports. A lack of an interagency task force inside the Trump White House means a less-than-streamlined federal response to the various problems. Freeman told CNN that time is running out to address the list of worries, even if the tournament is still more than 15 months away – though he emphasized that he holds out hope that the administration can correct course. “We’re running out of time,” he said. “It’s only 16 months away from when we have the kick-off. … We’ve got three locations in Canada, one location in Mexico – there are visitors who are going to want to transfer across borders here. How is that going to work? We would like to see much more urgency to get to the bottom of that.” He added: “Where is the urgency to really focus on what it takes to make this event a success? The way we’re pacing, we’re going to struggle. But it’s not too late to put the resources forward to focus on some of these key obstacles and to ensure that America does, as the president has asked for, show off and have the greatest World Cup that’s ever been played.”
