2026 World Cup hotel bookings below expectations, per new report
A new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that 80% of hotel owners and operators in the 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 World Cup said hotel bookings are below initial forecasts. Factors contributing to the underwhelming forecast include rising fuel costs, expensive transportation, geopolitical uncertainty, and visa barriers.
The 2026 World Cup is not providing the expected boost to the hotel industry, according to a report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). The report surveyed hotel owners and operators across the 11 U.S. host cities and found that 80% of respondents said hotel bookings are tracking below initial forecasts. Rising fuel costs, expensive transportation to games, geopolitical uncertainty, and visa barriers are cited as reasons for the underwhelming forecast. Kansas City is the host city most negatively impacted, with 85-90% of respondents reporting a booking pace below expectations. In contrast, Atlanta and Miami had around half of respondents saying booking was at a pace meeting or exceeding expectations. The AHLA urged FIFA and the U.S. to provide a more seamless travel experience for international travelers, citing concerns over visa wait times and fees. The 'FIFA PASS,' an expedited visa interview process, has seen slow uptake with only around 14,000 people having used it as of last weekend.
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