With fewer than four weeks to go before the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 11 June, hotels across the United States are reporting booking levels well below expectations — raising fears that the anticipated economic windfall from the tournament may not materialise.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), the largest hotel industry body in the United States, representing more than 32,000 properties and over 80% of all franchised hotels, has published a report finding that reservations are falling short of projections in nearly every host city. Some 80% of those surveyed say bookings are lagging behind expectations, particularly from international visitors. The AHLA points part of the blame at FIFA itself, accusing the governing body of having block-booked a very large number of rooms — artificially inflating both demand and prices — and then cancelling up to 70% of those reservations in cities including Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Seattle. The association argues this created "artificial demand" that masked a weaker underlying interest and left hotels with empty rooms after years of preparation and significant investment. FIFA has rejected the accusations, saying all room releases were carried out in line with contractually agreed timelines and that the process followed standard practice for an event of this scale.
Beyond the dispute over booking practices, several broader factors appear to be suppressing visitor numbers. Ticket prices have drawn widespread criticism: they range from several hundred dollars for a late group-stage fixture to many thousands for the most sought-after matches. Even US President Donald Trump remarked that he "wouldn't pay" current prices himself. Host city organisers, such as those in Philadelphia — where six matches will be played, including a round-of-16 game on 4 July, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — stress that ticketing decisions rest entirely with FIFA. Slow visa processing, sharply higher transatlantic airfares in part linked to regional instability, and concerns about the enforcement activities of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have also been cited as deterrents for international fans. Human rights organisations have highlighted risks of arbitrary detention, and the anxiety is real enough that host city officials acknowledge they have no control over federal immigration enforcement during the tournament.
Hotel rates in cities like Boston remain above $300 per night, pushing many travelling fans towards alternatives. Airbnb says the World Cup is on course to become the largest hosting event in its history, surpassing the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Fans on tighter budgets are booking accommodation far from city centres and relying on rental cars. An English fan who has attended four previous World Cups described travelling with a group of five on a budget of $75 per person per night, staying 45 minutes to an hour outside the host cities.
Why this matters: A FIFA-commissioned study published last year projected that the tournament could generate $17.2 billion in GDP and support 185,000 jobs across the United States. With FIFA reporting that more than five million tickets have been sold, the gap between ticket sales and hotel bookings is striking. Industry representatives say they still expect occupancy to rise as fans finalise plans in the coming weeks, and organisers are investing in large-scale fan festivals — free and open to the public — to ensure the tournament has a wider reach. Whether that will be enough to deliver the economic boost that hotels and host cities were counting on remains uncertain.