Hotels in the United States are reporting underwhelming demand for stays during the 2026 World Cup. The American Hotel and Lodging Association released data on Monday indicating that bookings are below initial forecasts.
The World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.
AHLA Findings on World Cup Bookings
The American Hotel and Lodging Association surveyed members in the 11 U.S. host cities. Close to 80 percent of respondents reported that bookings are “tracking below initial forecasts” for the World Cup.
The report is based on 205 responses from hotel operators and owners. Many own multiple portfolios across multiple World Cup markets.
Over 70 percent of respondents in San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia and Boston reported that booking pace was below expectations. Over 60 percent said the same in Los Angeles, New York City, Houston and Dallas.
Miami had just over 50 percent of respondents reporting bookings below expectations. Atlanta had just under 50 percent.
Economic Concerns Arise
The AHLA concluded that “indicators suggest the anticipated economic lift [from the World Cup] may fall short of expectations.” Some properties are “pausing investments around World Cup-specific activations, brand partnerships, and temporary renovations amid uncertainty” due to slower-than-expected demand.
The report warns that host cities will not generate the tax revenue that FIFA and others promised if bookings fall below expectations. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has regularly cited claims that the World Cup will have a $30 billion “economic impact” in the U.S.
A significant portion of this projected impact relies on tourists piling into the country during the tournament.
Kansas City Organisers Respond
Local organisers of the World Cup in Kansas City provided some pushback upon learning of the report by the AHLA.
Embassies from Argentina, Ecuador, Netherlands, Curaçao, Austria and Canada are all deploying consular service teams to Kansas City. They anticipate a significant number of their citizens will be travelling to the area to attend games and tournament events.
The Kansas City Host Committee pointed to feedback from Visit KC, the region’s official tourism organisation. They insisted that there is building demand but conceded it is “increasingly concentrated, domestic-led, and booking later.” Domestic travellers are the main driver of inbound travel to the area during the World Cup.
Broader Industry Worries
The AHLA report aligns with worries that tourism industry leaders began expressing throughout the spring.
The AHLA report also casts further doubt on projected revenues.