World Cup Short-Term Bookings Surge Despite Unsold Tickets, Hotels Warning

Short-term rental demand is surging ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but hotels are warning that the expected tourism boom may not fully materialize.

New data shared with Newsweek from travel platforms Airbnb and Booking.com shows a sharp rise in accommodation searches and bookings tied to match dates. However, hotel industry leaders say that demand has yet to translate into actual room occupancy: short-term rentals are booming, while some hotels are reporting weaker-than-expected bookings.

"Hotels across host markets have spent years preparing for the World Cup, and while there is real excitement, the data points to a more nuanced outlook," Rosanna Maietta, president and CEO of American Hotel & Lodging Association, said in a statement about its latest report. "A range of factors have tempered early optimism, though forward indicators show there is still meaningful opportunity ahead.”

What To Know

Platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com are seeing strong early demand, especially for group travel.

According to Airbnb, families and groups account for more than half of World Cup trips. Many travelers are choosing larger homes and multi-bedroom rentals. Affordable listings often under $500 a night are driving bookings.

While Airbnb listings are not hotels, data from Booking.com, which includes both hotels and short-term rentals, suggest trends similar to Airbnb’s.

Booking.com Data Shows Sharp Spikes

Search data from Booking.com provided to Newsweek showed significant increases in accommodation interest tied to key match dates.

Opening Matches:

• Mexico City (June 11):
  • +157.6 percent global searches
  • +231.1 percent U.S. searches
• Toronto (June 12):
  • +437.1 percent global
  • +362.6 percent U.S.
• Los Angeles (June 12):
  • +66.4 percent global
  • +77.1 percent U.S.

Knockout Rounds:

• Kansas City (June 27):
  • +1,384 percent global searches
• Dallas:
  • +450.7 percent global
• NYC / East Rutherford:
  • +283.1 percent global

Final (July 19):

• NYC / East Rutherford:
  • +66.7 percent global
  • +133.0 percent U.S.

While this data reflects search demand rather than confirmed bookings, it still signals strong interest.

Hotels Warn Boom May Fall Short

Despite surging searches, hotels say bookings are lagging.

According to a new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), 80 percent of hotels report bookings below expectations, and demand has not translated into strong occupancy.

Domestic travelers are reportedly outpacing international visitors, likely due to visa restrictions, geopolitical issues and rising travel and accommodation costs. FIFA’s cancellation or release of large hotel room blocks has also caused some issues for travelers.

"With just two months until kickoff, however, indicators suggest the anticipated economic lift may fall short of expectations. Despite more than five million tickets sold, this demand has not yet translated into strong hotel bookings," the report said.

The high costs of attending the World Cup may also be dampening hotel demand.

While fans already face expensive ticket-and-travel combinations, some hotels have also raised prices significantly in anticipation of increased demand.

A Split Market: Rentals vs. Hotels

The released data reflects a growing divide between short-term rentals, which are benefiting from group travel and flexible pricing and hotels, which are experiencing fewer bookings than expected and a higher reliance on international travelers.

“We were sold this expectation that the World Cup would be a big phenomenon; people have been talking about it for years,” said Deidre Mathis, owner of the Wanderstay Boutique Hotel in Houston, Texas, as reported by The Sporting News.

What Happens Next

There is still time for bookings to pick up as the tournament approaches.

AHLA said that "forward indicators show there is still meaningful opportunity ahead," and hotels are urging travelers to book early and take advantage of available space.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 1:31 PM.