(Lebanon, N.H – February 9, 2026) – International travelers express heightened concern about potential travel disruptions to FIFA World Cup host countries, according to the Global Rescue Winter 2026 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey, though other travelers say they are not significantly altering their travel plans because of the tournament,

Overall, 34% of respondents say they are not avoiding travel to any of the host countries — the US, Canada and Mexico — during the World Cup period. An additional 41% report they have no plans to travel to any of the host countries regardless of the event. Only 12% say they are undecided.

Avoidance varies notably by geography. Among non-US respondents, 45% say they are avoiding travel to the US during the World Cup, compared to just 2% of US-based travelers. Similarly, 13% of non-US travelers say they are avoiding Mexico, versus 6% of US respondents. Avoidance of Canada remains comparatively low overall at 4%, though non-US travelers are more than three times as likely as US travelers to avoid Canada (10% vs 3%).

Gender differences also emerge. Men are slightly more likely than women to say they are not avoiding travel to any host country (33% vs 35%), while women are more likely to report having no plans to travel to the host countries at all (47% vs 40%). Men show higher avoidance of the US during the World Cup period (11% vs 9%), while women are marginally more likely to avoid Canada (5% vs 3%).

“Mega-events like the World Cup create perceptions of congestion and complexity, even for travelers with no intention of attending matches,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. “The data shows that while most travelers are not overly concerned, non-US travelers are far more sensitive to the potential impacts on entry, mobility and crowding.”

Concerns about border delays and enhanced screening remain limited overall. More than half of all respondents (54%) say they are not at all concerned about delays, additional screening or entry issues when entering Canada, Mexico or the US during the World Cup. Another 24% say they are slightly concerned.

Non-US travelers, however, report higher levels of concern. While 56% of US respondents say they are not at all concerned, that figure drops to 45% among non-US travelers. Nearly 35% of non-US respondents describe themselves as moderately or very concerned, compared to 19% of US travelers. Men and women report similar concern levels overall, though women are more likely to say they are slightly concerned (28% vs 23%), while men are marginally more likely to say they are very concerned (8% vs 4%).

Despite the scale of the event, interest in attending matches is limited. Fully 84% of travelers say they are not planning to attend any World Cup matches. Only 4% plan to attend matches in a single host country and none report plans to attend matches in multiple countries. Non-US travelers are even less likely to attend, with 92% saying they do not plan to go to any matches, compared to 82% of US respondents.

“The World Cup’s impact extends well beyond ticket holders,” Richards said. “Even travelers with no interest in the games are factoring the event into their decisions, particularly when it comes to border crossings and destination choice.”

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About the Global Rescue Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey

Global Rescue, the leading travel risk and crisis response provider, surveyed more than 1,400 current and former members between January 13 – 17, 2026. Respondents shared their attitudes, behaviors and preferences related to travel safety, technology and global mobility.

About Global Rescue
Global Rescue is the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation and travel risk management services to enterprises, governments and individuals. Founded in 2004, Global Rescue maintains exclusive relationships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. The company has provided medical and security support during every major global crisis over the past two decades.