The 2026 World Cup, set to be the largest in history with 48 teams and 104 matches, has seen hotel demand soften considerably. The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) warned that anticipated demand has not materialized, with 80% of hoteliers surveyed reporting bookings below projections. FIFA has cancelled or released about 70% of its massive hotel reservations, and in some cities up to 95% of reservations have been cancelled, according to an AHLA report.
Only 15% of FIFA's reserved rooms were picked up, Lior Sekler, chief commercial officer at HRI Hospitality, told Daily Mirror - News. International travel barriers and costs are deterring fans. Between 65% and 70% of hoteliers surveyed by AHLA identified visa constraints and geopolitical concerns as the primary impact on international demand.
While we were not excited about that, it's not the end of the world either. These are rooms that are going to be put back out on the marketplace and sold to fans who want to come to Philadelphia.
Hotel chiefs blame a 'Trump slump' for a downturn in World Cup bookings, according to US hotel chiefs. Domestic travellers are outpacing international visitors in hotel bookings, AHLA said. Inflation and conflict in Iran have pushed jet fuel prices upward, making international travel expensive.
Visa delays, concerns about immigration authorities, expensive flights, strong dollar, and geopolitical tensions are keeping international travelers away, according to an AHLA report. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Alan Fyall, a professor at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, said he would be surprised if there's a big influx of international fans at the last minute. Host cities show mixed results.
I would be surprised if there's a big influx of international fans at the last minute this time. It’s not so easy to get here at the last minute, the way everything is now.
In Kansas City, 85% to 90% of surveyed hotels report booking levels below expectations, according to AHLA. In Philadelphia, 2,000 of the 10,000 hotel rooms initially reserved by FIFA have been cancelled, Ed Grose, president of the Philadelphia Hotel Association, told Daily Express - Sport. According to Daily Express - Sport, Grose described the cancellations as not the end of the world, noting rooms would be sold to fans.
Only 42% of Airbnb rentals in Philadelphia are occupied for the group stage, according to AirDNA. Miami and Atlanta are outperforming expectations in hotel bookings, AHLA said. However, Mae Stewart spent $60,000 renovating her Atlanta home for the World Cup but it remains unbooked, according to major media.
Categorically say we haven’t seen much of a meaningful boost yet. It’s possible we will get some more demand, but at this point it certainly will not be the cornucopia that Fifa was promising.
Boston is the only host city where more than half of Airbnb inventory has been reserved, at approximately 55%, according to AirDNA. Hotels in US cities like Dallas have cut prices by a third due to lack of demand, according to major media. Hotels have suspended additional World Cup-related investments due to lack of bookings, according to major media.
Ticket prices remain high, and some fans face steep transportation costs. Group stage tickets often cost several hundred dollars, and premium seats for the final are listed for as much as $25,000. The cheapest World Cup tickets cost 10 times the price promised in the original bid.
I’m seeing a lot of people start to panic and lower their rates.
England fans need to pay at least $220 for group games against Ghana and Panama, and up to $700 for category one tickets for the opener against Croatia. In New York, fans may face $150 for a shuttle train to MetLife Stadium or $300 for parking. In Boston, a round-trip commuter rail ticket to Gillette Stadium is $80, and parking can reach $270.
In Los Angeles, parking for group stage matches has been set as high as $300. Airbnb offers $750 bonuses to new hosts and earnings calculators to encourage participation. According to Daily Mirror - News, Vijay Dandapani, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, said they haven't seen much of a meaningful boost yet.
Obviously, people’s desire to come to the United States is down right now.
According to Daily Mirror - News, Scott Yesner, founder of hotel management company Bespoke Stay, said he's seeing a lot of people start to panic and lower their rates.