The anticipated economic surge from hosting the World Cup has not yet materialized for hotels across the United States, according to a survey conducted in April by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Room reservations have remained below typical seasonal levels in several major host cities, including Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. In other significant markets such as New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Houston, demand has tracked at roughly the same pace as regular spring and summer periods rather than showing the substantial increases that tournament organizers had projected.
Hotel industry representatives attributed the softer-than-expected booking patterns to multiple factors affecting international travelers’ decision-making. Concerns about obtaining U.S. visas, broader travel anxiety, and the financial requirements of attending matches emerged as primary obstacles. In addition, the overall cost structure of the tournament—encompassing elevated ticket prices and varying transportation expenses across different host cities—discouraged potential visitors from committing to reservations.
The pricing strategies adopted by many hotel operators may have contributed to the sluggish demand. Following the announcement of the tournament schedule, numerous hotels significantly raised their nightly rates in anticipation of strong bookings from soccer enthusiasts. Properties near major venues such as MetLife Stadium in New Jersey advertised rates as high as $800 per night during match dates and exceeding $1,300 ahead of the July 19 final, compared to typical rates around $200. However, experienced tournament attendees are reportedly waiting for these elevated prices to decline, a pattern that has repeatedly occurred at previous major sporting events.
Booking platforms including Airbnb and Vrbo have captured demand that traditional hotels were unable to secure. Several metropolitan regions surrounding host cities showed increased short-term rental activity compared with the prior year. Airbnb reported that expected guest volumes during the tournament are anticipated to exceed the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, marking a record for the company. More than 5 million tickets have been sold out of over 6 million expected to be made available across all 104 matches.
Economists noted that major sporting events typically displace regular business and leisure tourism, potentially offsetting benefits to the hotel sector. While some industry officials remain optimistic that booking momentum will accelerate closer to match dates, current performance figures have not aligned with pre-tournament projections made by FIFA and event promoters.
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