Expedia Group Forecasts $8.1 Billion USD in North American Traveller Spend for FIFA

Expedia Group has partnered with PredictHQ, a global provider of real-word event data and its latest forecasts project more than $8.1 billion USD in total traveller spend between June and August 2026 in North America, driven by international demand for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

That number is nearly $750 million USD higher than the same period last year.

“What makes this powerful is how we connect predictive intelligence directly to commercial action,” said Susan Spinney, Senior Vice President, Hotel Market Partnerships at Expedia Group. “We’re not just identifying demand – we’re enabling partners to respond immediately in Partner Central, whether that’s adjusting strategy, increasing visibility through TravelAds, or targeting the right domestic and international travellers at the right time.

It’s about turning foresight into measurable growth.”

Several U.S. host cities are forecast to see significant year-over-year increases in visitor spending. Arlington, Texas, is projected to record the largest overall gain, with total traveller spend expected to exceed US$562 million, representing a 135 per cent increase year-over-year. Other markets expected to see substantial economic boosts include Foxborough, Massachusetts (up 161 per cent), Kansas City, Missouri (up 73.4 per cent), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (up 19.9 per cent), and Houston, Texas (up 18.3 per cent).

Japan and the United Kingdom are leading inbound demand into Dallas, with bookings up more than 1,800 per cent and 1,500 per cent above typical weekly levels, respectively. Brazil-to-Philadelphia and Germany-to-Houston routes are also seeing four-digit growth, while demand from Australia to Seattle is up 400 per cent.

Across all host cities, projected accommodation spending from June through August 2026 is expected to rise from US$2.6 billion to US$4.8 billion year-over-year. The growth is attributed in part to longer stays, as fans extend trips beyond match days. Toronto and Vancouver are both host cities in Canada.

While the headline numbers focus on U.S. host cities, the ripple effects extend directly into Canada’s travel ecosystem, from outbound leisure sales and airline capacity planning to inbound marketing strategy and hotel revenue management.

The data also suggests that international fan travel corridors are strengthening well in advance of events, offering hoteliers and destination marketers greater lead time to capitalize on inbound demand.