Next year’s FIFA World Cup will bring the world’s biggest sporting event to 11 cities across the U.S. In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympics.
Under normal circumstances, these events would draw millions of visitors, generate billions of dollars in tourism and showcase America on the world stage. But unless the U.S. changes course, we are likely to squander the opportunity, damaging both our economy and our global reputation.
Over 1 million fans traveled to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. The 2024 Paris Olympics attracted about 1.7 million international visitors. The U.S. should be preparing for similar crowds, but it is instead throwing up barriers.
On his first day back in office, President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to apply “maximum” vetting to all visa applicants. In practice, that has meant more arrests, more detentions, more deportations and more horror stories of travelers turned away at the border.
The damage isn’t limited to the border. The State Department has imposed invasive social media vetting on certain visa applicants. Consular officers are vetting applicants for “any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.” Applicants who refuse to make their online activity visible may be viewed as trying to hide something, which could result in a denial.
Then came Trump’s sweeping travel ban on 12 countries and restrictions on seven more on June 4. Leaked plans suggest the administration may soon target an additional 36 countries. That would affect hundreds of thousands of travelers. And earlier this month, Trump signed an executive order requiring noncitizens to pay more to visit our national parks than U.S. citizens.
The travel industry is already feeling the effect. In May, the World Travel and Tourism Council projected that international travel spending in the U.S. will plunge by 22 percent this year — a $12.5 billion loss. Among 184 countries studied, the U.S. is the only one expected to see a decline in spending by foreign visitors.
And don’t assume you’re safe if you’re not from a banned country. Visa applicants from all over the world now face expanded surveillance and ballooning backlogs. For example, the average wait time for a tourist visa at the American embassy in Bogota, Colombia is now 15 months.
Even under former President Joe Biden, more than 66,000 visa applicants were stuck in “administrative processing.” That number has almost certainly grown during Trump’s second term. Even travelers from closely allied countries now face uncertainty, long wait times and unexplained delays.
The message is being received overseas: Visit America at your own risk.
Meanwhile, the 11 U.S. cities hosting World Cup games are preparing for a wave of foreign visitors and media. But they also house large immigrant communities facing increased enforcement and surveillance. The administration has not clarified whether there will be any safeguards for undocumented or mixed-status fans, workers or residents near these events.
On the contrary, Trump has ordered immigration agents to intensify arrests and deportations in Democratic-run cities like Los Angeles and New York — both key sites for World Cup matches. Immigrants are staying home, afraid that they could be picked up on their way to or from work.
This is a self-inflicted wound. Without a reliable workforce and a welcoming environment for international travelers, the U.S. could turn two marquee events into cautionary tales. Even if the administration relaxes certain policies temporarily to facilitate the World Cup and Olympics, the damage to America’s image and economy may already be done.
Hosting global events is more than a point of pride — it’s a test of openness, security and competence. A successful World Cup and Olympics would show the world that the U.S. remains dynamic, open and capable. But if fear and red tape define the visitor experience, we would send another message entirely: America isn’t worth the trouble.
That wouldn’t just be a lost opportunity but an unforced economic and diplomatic error.
Stephen Yale-Loehr is a retired immigration law professor at Cornell University.