Soccer's most-watched event on Earth is coming back to the United States for the first time in 32 years, and this time it's bringing 47 countries with it.
Why it matters: For one glorious month, fans around the world stop to watch the same thing, and you'll finally get to be there for it. Add in Lionel Messi's likely last dance and a tournament playing out in your backyard, and even the most casual fan has reason to tune in.
The U.S. hospitality industry hopes next month's World Cup can make up for last year's decline in foreign tourism, but travel restrictions and steep prices may keep visitors away.
The big picture: An estimated 1.2 million international fans are coming to the U.S. for the tournament, according to the New York Times, citing the research firm Tourism Economics.
The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and will be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Why it matters: More Americans are tuning into soccer ahead of the sport's most prestigious tournament, with hopes that this summer will spark the kind of breakthrough interest the 1994 World Cup did the last time it was played on American soil.
