Francisco González Galé was pleasantly surprised by the sense of belonging he experienced while fulfilling his children’s desires earlier this year with a trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, having traveled from Buenos Aires. The 46-year-old Argentine lawyer previously traveled to the US once every few years; however, he has already made two trips stateside in 2025. “I’ve been to Disney five or six times since the 1990s, but I’ve never seen anything like this,” remarked González Galé. “It was entirely Argentines.” His fellow citizens are traveling in significant numbers to the United States this year, defying a sluggish overall trend in international tourism. This surge comes even before next year’s FIFA World Cup, which is expected to attract more Argentines eager to witness national hero Lionel Messi potentially play one last time on the grand stage.
The appreciation of the currency following President Javier Milei’s inauguration, coupled with Argentina’s intense enthusiasm for soccer during the United States’ hosting of the Club World Cup — a precursor to FIFA’s principal event in 2026 — has led to a notable increase in travel activity. In the first half of the year, over 413,000 Argentines traveled to the US, marking an increase of nearly 23 percent compared to the same timeframe in 2024. This surge represents the most significant growth in overseas arrivals among the top 20 countries, as reported by the US International Trade Administration.
As the United States prepares to co-host the world’s largest sporting event with Mexico and Canada next year, there is optimism that this soccer-centric nation may compensate for certain deficiencies in other areas. Visitors from countries such as France and Germany are progressively opting out of traveling to the US, partly as a result of the policies implemented by US President Donald Trump.
In June, a significant turnout of Argentines attended the matches featuring the nation’s foremost clubs, Boca Juniors and River Plate, which included large beachside pep rallies in Miami. Their enthusiasm for football remains unwavering. The notable development was the significant appreciation of the Argentine peso last year, which enhanced their purchasing power in dollars and rendered international travel considerably more accessible. Paula Costa observed the increase stemming from Argentines. Her Miami restaurant Bunbury experienced a decline in customers last year due to a significant increase in local rents and living costs. However, she indicates that up to fifty percent of her clientele on any particular evening is currently Argentine. Costa organizes “Argentina night,” an event that has gained significant popularity. “Every time we post the event on Eventbrite, it sells out immediately,” states Costa, a native Argentine herself. “At times, we are compelled to cancel guests due to reaching our capacity limit of 230 individuals.”
Milei’s economic policies resulted in the peso appreciating against the dollar last year, granting Argentines increased purchasing power that has manifested in a surge in sales of homes, cars, and international flights. The total number of Argentines traveling abroad has increased by nearly 60 percent this year, reaching almost 11 million, which corresponds to approximately a quarter of the country’s population. Major carriers including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines Group plan to increase the number of available US-Argentina flights this year. Trump and Milei, who maintain a strong alliance, have recently reached an agreement to allow Argentina to enter the evaluation process for consideration in the visa waiver programme.
Argentines’ travel patterns stand in stark contrast to those of Korean, Dutch, Canadian, and Irish citizens, who are exhibiting a decline in trips to the US. This trend can be attributed, in part, to global economic uncertainty and increasing discontent with White House policies. The projected decline in US tourism is expected to result in a loss of US$12 billion in revenue this year. In this context, Vince Baglivo is intensifying initiatives to draw tourists in anticipation of the World Cup. The executive director of the Ironbound Business Improvement District in Newark, New Jersey, is collaborating with the city to initiate marketing campaigns aimed at highlighting local restaurants and emphasizing its advantageous location near New York, Philadelphia, and Metlife Stadium, the venue for the final World Cup match. “Regardless of whether your allegiance lies with Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Ecuador, the United States, or Germany, it is of no consequence,” stated Baglivo. “When the spotlight hits you, the imperative is to respond with agility and intensity.”