Hotels in U.S. World Cup host cities claim underwhelming demand, new report says

AHLA: World Cup hotel demand in U.S. host cities softer than forecast

A majority of hotels across the 2026 World Cup’s 11 U.S. host cities report lagging demand for stays during the tournament, according to new data released Monday by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). The AHLA, which represents more than 30,000 properties nationwide, surveyed members in the host markets, and close to 80 percent of respondents said bookings are “tracking below initial forecasts” for the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19.

The AHLA noted that the data—based on 205 responses from hotel operators and owners, many with portfolios spanning multiple World Cup markets—shows current performance well below what hotels themselves had anticipated. More than 70 percent of respondents in San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia and Boston reported booking pace below expectations, with over 60 percent saying the same in Los Angeles, New York City, Houston and Dallas.

The rosiest relative outlooks were in Miami, where just over 50 percent of respondents reported bookings below expectations, and in Atlanta, at just under 50 percent.

Citing member feedback, the AHLA concluded that “indicators suggest the anticipated economic lift [from the World Cup] may fall short of expectations.” The report also notes that some properties are “pausing investments around World Cup-specific activations, brand partnerships, and temporary renovations amid uncertainty” due to slower-than-expected demand. It warns that if bookings fall below expectations, host cities will not generate the tax revenue that FIFA and others had promised.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has repeatedly cited a $30 billion “economic impact” for the World Cup in the United States, but a large portion of this projected impact depends on a surge of tourist traffic during the tournament.

Kansas City pushback

Upon learning of the AHLA report, local World Cup organizers in Kansas City offered some pushback. They told The Athletic that embassies from Argentina, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Curaçao, Austria and Canada are deploying consular service teams to Kansas City because they anticipate a significant number of their citizens will travel to the area for games and events. They also pointed to KMBC reports noting increased take-up of short-term rentals this summer.

The Kansas City Host Committee cited feedback from Visit KC, the region’s official tourism organization, which said there is growing demand but that it is increasingly concentrated, domestic-led, and booking later, with domestic travelers driving inbound travel to the area during the World Cup.