U.S. Travel Launches Sports Events Coalition

The U.S. Travel Association has launched America’s Sports and Travel Mega Event Coalition (ASTMEC), a national alliance of sports, travel and business leaders dedicated to helping the United States successfully host the collection of global sporting events headed to the United States over the next decade.

ASTMEC is expected to work in close partnership with the Trump administration to ensure that necessary policies, infrastructure and security systems are in place to support those events, which include the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

The move comes as the White House has shown increased interest playing a key role in those sports events while also enacting policies that could potentially hinder international fan travel to events. Among those is a $250 “visa integrity fee” that international visitors will soon have to pay to enter the United States. Host cities have also been monitoring the latest issues around fan travel as they plan to host visitors from around the world.

“The Trump administration’s launch of the White House Task Force on the 2028 Summer Olympics lays critical groundwork for a historic decade of global sports,” said Geoff Freeman, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Travel Association. “This is another opportunity for the U.S. to demonstrate its leadership on the world stage. Hosting these events will bring global attention and millions of visitors to our cities—but momentum isn’t enough. Success demands strategy, unity and investment. We urge the White House Task Force to press Congress to scrap the misguided $250 junk fee that will deter legitimate visitors. ASTMEC is ready to partner with federal and local leaders to deliver a secure, seamless experience and a legacy that lasts.”

U.S. Travel estimates that an estimated 30 million international visitors will be coming for major sporting events. In addition to the World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games, the United States will host the 2029 World University Games, the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup, the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The U.S. is also the only bidder for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup.