UAE travel demand for US surges 235% ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Football fans across the GCC and beyond are gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with travel demand for host nations — the US, Canada and Mexico — climbing sharply. According to Expedia data, accommodation searches for stays between 11 and 27 June 2026 have risen 235% in the UAE and 180% in Saudi Arabia, reflecting strong early enthusiasm for the tournament. 

Fuelling this surge is record regional representation, with four Middle Eastern teams qualifying, the highest-ever in World Cup history. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and debut entrant Jordan will compete in matches across North American cities, including Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas, as well as Vancouver in Canada. Iraq could join the lineup pending the outcome of the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026 in Mexico.

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Key World Cup host cities including Boston, New York and Miami are emerging as fan hotspots, driven by UK and Brazilian supporters travelling for major matches. Expedia data shows searches for group stays in Boston jumped by 1,000% from 30 November to 8 December 2025, while Dallas recorded a 900% increase in both accommodation and flight searches for summer 2026. These cities also serve as major travel hubs, offering ease of connections for fans. Outside the US, Toronto, Canada and Monterrey, Mexico are also seeing strong traction, with travel interest up more than 200%. 

In addition to rising interest from Middle Eastern fans, Colombian football enthusiasts are showing strong demand, with accommodation searches up 305% year-on-year from September to December, the highest of any nation. Top destinations for these fans include Mexico City, Guadalajara and Miami. Argentina, England and Scotland also saw spikes, with increases of nearly 300% each.