The creation of a White House task force for the 2026 World Cup has won plaudits from the US Travel Association.
President Donald Trump unveiled the plans on Friday, highlighting the value major sporting events can bring to America.
Trump will chair the task force, with an executive director recruited to manager daily operations.
The 2026 tournament is being jointly hosted with Canada and Mexico, with the bulk of matches taking place across 11 US cities in June and July next year.
A White House statement said: “The 2026 World Cup is projected to draw massive crowds, significantly boosting local businesses, infrastructure development, and job creation.
“2026 World Cup host cities can expect to see up to 450,000 visitors and a potential net economic impact of up to $480 million.
“Tourism, hospitality, and retail industries will benefit from increased international and domestic visitors.”
The US Travel Association noted that the “critical action” will ensure a seamless and secure experience for the eight million visitors the country could welcome “if we build the right processes”.
Chief executive Geoff Freeman said: “The creation of this task force was a top priority for US Travel and will ensure the US is fully prepared to host the world’s largest sporting event.
“We are grateful for the administration’s leadership in bringing together the necessary resources to support the massive influx of travellers, and we are confident this will lay the foundation for a truly transformative mega-decade of events.
“We look forward to the positive impact this will have on both the travel industry and the nation as a whole.”