Did the World Cup help tourism to the States?

Doesn't seem so. Since the US government reports:

International Air Passenger Enplanements To and From the United States Declined 2.4 percent Year Over Year in July 2026

Foreign International Air Passenger Arrivals To the United States Decreased 3.0 Percent

U.S. Citizen International Air Passenger Departures From the United States Decreased 2.2 Percent

Non-U.S. citizen air passenger arrivals to the United States from foreign countries totaled:

5.1 million in July 2026, down 3.0 percent compared to July 2025.

The details:

Data recently released by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) show that in July 2026:

U.S.-international air traffic passenger enplanements1 totaled:

26.4 million in July 2026, down 2.4 percent compared to July 2025

Originating Non-Stop Air Travel in July 2026

Non-U.S. citizen air passenger arrivals to the United States from foreign countries totaled:

5.1 million in July 2026, down 3.0 percent compared to July 2025.

On a related note, overseas visitor arrivals2 totaled 3.1 million in July 2026, down 7.0 percent from July 2025 (See July I-94 Advance Release https://www.trade.gov/i-94-arrivals-program)

U.S. citizen air passenger departures from the United States to foreign countries totaled:

7.9 million in July 2026, down 2.2 percent from July 2025.

World Region Highlights in July 2026 (APIS/I-92 arrivals + departures)

Total air passenger travel (arrivals and departures) between the United States and other countries were led by Mexico (3.7 million, -5.4 percent Year-Over-Year (YOY)), Canada (3.1 million, +1.5 percent YOY), the United Kingdom (2 million, -6.5 percent YOY), the Dominican Republic (1.2 million, -1.9 percent YOY), and Germany (1.1 million, -3.5 percent YOY).

International regional air travel to/from the United States:

Europe totaled 8.5 million passengers, down 2.6 percent from July 2025.

South/Central America/Caribbean totaled 6.4 million, down 2.5 percent from July 2025.

Asia totaled 2.8 million passengers, down 0.3 percent over July 2025.

Middle East totaled 1.2 million passengers, down 7 percent from July 2025.

Top U.S. ports serving international locations were New York (JFK) 3.3 million, Miami (MIA) 2.3 million, Los Angeles (LAX) 2.3 million, Chicago (ORD) 1.6 million, and Newark (EWR) 1.6 million.

Top foreign ports serving U.S. locations were London Heathrow (LHR) 1.7 million, Toronto (YYZ) 1.1 million, Cancun (CUN) 1 million, Paris (CDG) 920,000, and Mexico City (MEX) 880,000.

Roller Coaster vs Route 601 and 5-6 August 1974

 Leaving Shenandoah National Park in early August 1974, I entered one of the most troubled sections of the AT.  But then again, most of the 500 miles of Trail in Virginia had since been RELOed several times.  See Mt Rogers, Tinker Mtn, and others.  For the PATC, see the newsletter.  Many RELO hikes are found in the 2017 edition of the newsletter.

From my Journal.

5 August Monday

18 Miles today

Good day, Hike with Scouts from Arlington, Va.  In morning left the National Park.  Hike from Chester Gap to Mosby LT kind of lousy.  Had late lunch @ shelter then trucked into Linden to pick up mail & buy food.  Phoned home pick up date Thursday the 8th at 11 am.  Can't wait. Am alone tonight first time ever on this trip. So far not bad.  You need to show dogs you're not afraid.  Will use dog repellent & stick on road walks.  But fortunately just cursing at them will work. "ok, you muffa-fucker you get any closer and I'll bust this stick over your head."  I took one photo of me at camp.

###

I hit the town of Linden, and stopped at what I think is this place to pick up some food.  Google Streeview shots are great, but only go back 10 or so years.  Not the 50 years I need to show here.  (You need to remember, photos were scarce since we all used Kodak film rolls of 24 or 36.)

then this

Crossing the gap, I walked on roads until the trail branched into the woods east, and I think it was this spot.

Up the trail a bit, I found a level spot to camp and shoot that "selfie" above.

The USGS map shows the area in 1966.

Next day from my journal.

6 August Tuesday

17.5 m.

Walked miles on roads. Made out ok though.  Blazing poor, signs poor.  Made it to LT at 330.  Passed the Mt Weather which is a military complex top-secret area.  Wonder what it is? I plan to get a recorder the music kind when I get home.  Ed and Scouts arrived at 7:00.  Made sassafras tea in PM.  Too dark to write.

###

Today, it looks like this

Read about The Crisis on 601 on the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club website here.  Or other PATC links here.

and then camped at Three Springs LT with some Boy Scouts.  Read the Trail Register at the AT Museum site. 

Good night and sleep tight!