Trump Admin 'Squandering' Economic Opportunity as Vance Jokes About Deporting World Cup Fans: 'Going to Ruin Tourism'

FIFA World Cup 26 is scheduled to kick off in June of 2026, with games played in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States. It will be the first World Cup hosted by the US since 1994, when the record was set for the most financially successful and best attended World Cup in history.

The worldwide tournament's return presents a tremendous economic opportunity as fans from around the world flock to host cities. Vance acknowledged the tourism boom in a presser with President Donald Trump's World Cup planning task force.

"We'll have visitors from close to 100 countries," Vance told the group. "We want them to come, we want them to celebrate, we want them to watch the games."

"But when the time is up," he continued, "They'll have to go home, otherwise they'll have to talk to Secretary (Kristi) Noem."

Vance chuckled and gave the table a satisfied smack as he turned the floor over to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem. "That's true," she replied, punctuating a polite laugh.

On X, users were unimpressed by the quip.

"The Trump Administration is completely squandering a generational opportunity for the American tourism & hospitality industries," a comment read. "US about to set the record for worst World Cup attendance in World Cup history," one user predicted.

"These people are going to ruin international tourism in this country for at least a decade or more," lamented one comment. "Tourism just took another 25% hit," added another.

"They've somehow managed to turn an international celebrating into a threatening deportation PSA," said another.

Several commenters predicted or called for the event to be moved out of the US, or else boycotted. One commenter asked, "Why would anyone come here now?" with another questioning, "Who tf wants to visit a country deporting their own citizens?"

Others dismissed Vance's concern. "Does this idiot think that people who have money to travel and see the World Cup will want to stay there? lol" a dubious user mocked.

Trump's World Cup task force convened as the administration is entangled in a stream of lawsuits concerning its aggressive deportation policy. The list included deporting migrants without due process, some to a controversial high-security prison in El Salvador, and revoking green cards for international students identified by an AI system as having participated in pro-Palestine protests.

Apart from troubles at home, Trump has made his presence known on the world stage as well, enacting sweeping tariffs that have sent shockwaves through the global economy and reshaping relationships with long-time allies as the administration rethinks America's participation in global aid and security in favor of its "America First" policies.

The extent to which the Trump administration will impact next summer's celebration of the world's favorite game remains unknown, but so far, their strategy is heavy on offense.