By David Del Valle
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is shaping up to be one of the biggest drivers of tourism in North America. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) expects the tournament to give a significant boost to the tourism GDP of Canada, Mexico and the United States, cementing the region’s status as one of the world’s leading tourism hubs.
According to the council’s estimates, Canada will see the strongest tourism growth, with a 6.4% increase in sector GDP, while Mexico is set to expand by 2.4% and the US by 2.1%.
The WTTC sees the World Cup as a “strategic opportunity” to reinforce long-term tourism growth through greater air connectivity, more integrated experiences for travellers and closer cross-border cooperation between the three host countries.
“It is a unique opportunity for North America to accelerate tourism growth, strengthen connectivity and showcase the region to millions of travellers around the world,” says Gloria Guevara, President and CEO of the WTTC.
