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Four years ago, India registered a vocal presence in the stands at the Qatar World Cup. This edition of the Greatest Show on Earth, however, might see a more circumspect Indian presence. Higher costs, visa hurdles and logistical complexities mean fewer desi football fans are likely to travel Stateside to watch their favourite stars in action.
To be sure, despite lower visitor numbers, overall spending by Indian fans is projected to rise significantly as affluent travellers opt for premium, hospitality-led experiences.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held across the US, Canada and Mexico, will feature 104 matches involving 48 teams across 16 host cities between 11 June and 19 July.
Qatar 2022 attracted more than one million visitors, with India emerging as the second-largest source market after Saudi Arabia during the group stage.
According to FIFA, Saudi Arabia accounted for 77,106 visitors, followed by India (56,893), the US (36,236), the UK (30,719) and Mexico (25,533).
Industry executives said Qatar represented an exceptional high-water mark for Indian attendance. Its proximity to India, easier visa norms, relatively lower costs, compact geography and the presence of a large Indian diaspora in the Gulf made travel significantly more accessible for fans.
Industry executives ET spoke with believe the number of Indian football fans could fall to around 20,000 for the 2026 edition. This includes bookings made through tour operators, travel agents and private arrangements. That would mark a decline of nearly two-thirds from Qatar.
“Overall travel from India to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be lower than Qatar due to a combination of factors, including geopolitical uncertainty, high airfares, expensive match tickets and complex visa processes for the US and Canada. Unlike Qatar, this is a multi-country event requiring multiple approvals, making travel more cumbersome and costly,” said Mayank Khandwala, founder of Cutting Edge Events.
‘Inadequate Marketing’
Khandwala added that limited promotional activity around the tournament in India by FIFA and the host nations could dent the numbers.
Travel executives said airfare costs, expensive accommodation in North American cities, visa requirements and the logistical challenge of travelling across three countries are likely to discourage middle-income fans who travelled to Qatar.
Yet, lower volumes would not necessarily mean a smaller market. Sports hospitality executives said the 2026 edition is expected to skew towards affluent travellers seeking curated, end-to-end experiences rather than simply access to matches, helping offset the decline in visitor numbers.
Monish Shah, co-founder and CEO of DreamSetGo, said Indian fans are increasingly prioritising premium, seamless experiences at global sporting events.
“We are offering a mix of hospitality-only access as well as hospitality bundled with travel for groups, including premium match tickets, official hospitality access, accommodation and on-ground experiences. We have also partnered with Visit The USA and Visit California to create bespoke travel experiences for Indian football fans,” Shah said.
Demand has been strongest for marquee fixtures, including the semi-finals and final, while host cities such as Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta are seeing strong interest, Shah said.
“From an India perspective, we are seeing the highest traction from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Demand from Chandigarh, Indore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow has also exceeded expectations, with the consumer base largely driven by young families and affluent groups of friends, and the primary buyer aged above 35,” he said.
Industry executives said entry-level hospitality access starts at around Rs 2 lakh, while bundled travel packages, including flights, accommodation and premium match access, can cost Rs 7-10 lakh. Packages for marquee matches, including the final, can cost Rs 20-25 lakh.
Executives said a shift in the consumer profile is likely to offset lower volumes. Unlike Qatar, where middle-income football fans travelled in larger numbers, the 2026 edition is expected to be driven more by affluent travellers willing to spend heavily on hospitality, premium accommodation and curated itineraries.
“Compared with the last edition, we expect the overall market to grow by over 50% in value, driven by more affluent, experience-led travellers. There is a clear premiumisation trend underway, with fans increasingly prioritising seamless, high-quality experiences that go beyond just the game,” Shah said.
Khandwala said India-origin ticketing and hospitality sales for the FIFA World Cup have risen steadily over the years, from nearly $1 million in 2010 to $8-10 million in 2014, $15-20 million in 2018 and $25-30 million in 2022. However, the market is expected to moderate to $18-20 million for the 2026 edition due to higher costs and logistical challenges.
To be sure, despite lower visitor numbers, overall spending by Indian fans is projected to rise significantly as affluent travellers opt for premium, hospitality-led experiences.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held across the US, Canada and Mexico, will feature 104 matches involving 48 teams across 16 host cities between 11 June and 19 July.
Qatar 2022 attracted more than one million visitors, with India emerging as the second-largest source market after Saudi Arabia during the group stage.
According to FIFA, Saudi Arabia accounted for 77,106 visitors, followed by India (56,893), the US (36,236), the UK (30,719) and Mexico (25,533).
Industry executives said Qatar represented an exceptional high-water mark for Indian attendance. Its proximity to India, easier visa norms, relatively lower costs, compact geography and the presence of a large Indian diaspora in the Gulf made travel significantly more accessible for fans.
Industry executives ET spoke with believe the number of Indian football fans could fall to around 20,000 for the 2026 edition. This includes bookings made through tour operators, travel agents and private arrangements. That would mark a decline of nearly two-thirds from Qatar.
“Overall travel from India to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be lower than Qatar due to a combination of factors, including geopolitical uncertainty, high airfares, expensive match tickets and complex visa processes for the US and Canada. Unlike Qatar, this is a multi-country event requiring multiple approvals, making travel more cumbersome and costly,” said Mayank Khandwala, founder of Cutting Edge Events.
‘Inadequate Marketing’
Khandwala added that limited promotional activity around the tournament in India by FIFA and the host nations could dent the numbers.
Travel executives said airfare costs, expensive accommodation in North American cities, visa requirements and the logistical challenge of travelling across three countries are likely to discourage middle-income fans who travelled to Qatar.
Yet, lower volumes would not necessarily mean a smaller market. Sports hospitality executives said the 2026 edition is expected to skew towards affluent travellers seeking curated, end-to-end experiences rather than simply access to matches, helping offset the decline in visitor numbers.
Monish Shah, co-founder and CEO of DreamSetGo, said Indian fans are increasingly prioritising premium, seamless experiences at global sporting events.
“We are offering a mix of hospitality-only access as well as hospitality bundled with travel for groups, including premium match tickets, official hospitality access, accommodation and on-ground experiences. We have also partnered with Visit The USA and Visit California to create bespoke travel experiences for Indian football fans,” Shah said.
Demand has been strongest for marquee fixtures, including the semi-finals and final, while host cities such as Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Atlanta are seeing strong interest, Shah said.
“From an India perspective, we are seeing the highest traction from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad. Demand from Chandigarh, Indore, Ahmedabad and Lucknow has also exceeded expectations, with the consumer base largely driven by young families and affluent groups of friends, and the primary buyer aged above 35,” he said.
Industry executives said entry-level hospitality access starts at around Rs 2 lakh, while bundled travel packages, including flights, accommodation and premium match access, can cost Rs 7-10 lakh. Packages for marquee matches, including the final, can cost Rs 20-25 lakh.
Executives said a shift in the consumer profile is likely to offset lower volumes. Unlike Qatar, where middle-income football fans travelled in larger numbers, the 2026 edition is expected to be driven more by affluent travellers willing to spend heavily on hospitality, premium accommodation and curated itineraries.
“Compared with the last edition, we expect the overall market to grow by over 50% in value, driven by more affluent, experience-led travellers. There is a clear premiumisation trend underway, with fans increasingly prioritising seamless, high-quality experiences that go beyond just the game,” Shah said.
Khandwala said India-origin ticketing and hospitality sales for the FIFA World Cup have risen steadily over the years, from nearly $1 million in 2010 to $8-10 million in 2014, $15-20 million in 2018 and $25-30 million in 2022. However, the market is expected to moderate to $18-20 million for the 2026 edition due to higher costs and logistical challenges.
( Originally published on May 21, 2026 )
