SportsTravel Editors: The Legacy of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

You may have noticed that one of the world’s largest sporting events has begun, the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Destinations across the United States, Canada and Mexico have known for years that these weeks are coming, but now that they are finally here, we thought we’d take some time as an editorial team and talk about where we’ve been, what we expect, and maybe even some predictions on how the U.S. team will fare and who may win it all.
In this episode of the SportsTravel Podcast, SportsTravel Publisher Jason Gewirtz, Managing Editor Ted Keith and Senior Editor Paul Stevens break down our thoughts of which host cities may stand to benefit most, what the legacy of this event may ultimately look like and what the sports events industry should be looking at most closely as the games proceed.

Among the topics discussed:

• Tournament Scale & Format — The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest ever, spanning 3 host countries (U.S., Canada, Mexico), 16 host cities, and 48 teams (up from 32), introducing a new round of 32 knockout stage and creating what the editors described as potential “carnage” on the field.
• Host City Spotlight — Cities poised to benefit most, with New York/New Jersey (hosting the final), Atlanta, Kansas City, and Philadelphia standing out.
• Hospitality & Ticket Pricing Challenges — Hotel bookings are tracking below initial forecasts in many markets, with 80% of US hoteliers reporting shortfalls per an American Hotel and Lodging Association survey. Ticket prices have ranged wildly — from $6 on resale platforms all the way up to a reported $5.5 million — raising concerns about accessibility for fans.
• Tournament Legacy — The long-term impact of hosting in North America, including the future of the Women’s World Cup in 2031, whether cities will push back on FIFA’s demands next time around, and how the U.S. and Canada men’s teams could use this moment to establish themselves in global soccer.
• Predictions — Hear how far our editors think the U.S. team will advance and who the predict to win it all.