World Cup Hotel Bookings Trail Forecasts Across Most U.S. Host Cities

Hotel bookings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are running below initial expectations across most U.S. host markets, according to a May 4 survey released by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The U.S. hotel industry trade association said 80% of surveyed hoteliers in host markets reported bookings below earlier forecasts, even as FIFA continues to point to strong overall tournament demand.

The Details

The American Hotel & Lodging Association released its FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook on May 4, based on survey responses from hoteliers in U.S. host markets. AHLA said the results show a softer booking pace than many hotels had expected after years of preparation for the tournament. Rosanna Maietta, AHLA's president and CEO, said in the association's statement that hotels across host markets had spent years preparing for the World Cup and that, while there is real excitement, the data points to a more nuanced outlook.

AHLA attributed the weaker booking picture to fewer-than-expected international travelers, FIFA room-block cancellations, rising travel costs and visa barriers. The association said those factors were weighing on demand in many markets that had anticipated a major tourism lift from the tournament. The Athletic also reported that close to 80% of AHLA survey respondents across the 11 U.S. host cities said bookings were below initial forecasts for the June 11 to July 19 tournament window.

NPR reported that Kansas City was among the weakest markets in the survey. According to NPR, 85% to 90% of hotels there said bookings were below projections, and some said bookings were even below a typical June or July. That finding placed Kansas City among the clearest examples of the gap between early expectations and the current reservation pace.

AHLA said the picture was not uniform across the country. According to the association, Miami and Atlanta were relative bright spots, with roughly half or fewer respondents in those markets saying bookings were below expectations. AHLA contrasted those cities with softer markets including Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.

The Athletic reported a sharp contrast between ticket sales and one measure of international travel preparation. According to The Athletic, only around 14,000 people had used the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System as of the prior weekend, even though FIFA said more than 5 million tickets had been sold. The Athletic attributed the appointment-system figure to a State Department spokesperson and the ticket-sales figure to FIFA.

FIFA pushed back against criticism of its handling of hotel blocks, according to The Athletic. A FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic, 'To insinuate a lack in transparency from FIFA is factually incorrect.' The Athletic reported that AHLA and hoteliers cited room-block releases as one factor that had distorted expectations for hotel demand.

Context

NPR reported that the 2026 men's World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 11 U.S. cities hosting matches. The tournament is scheduled to begin June 11 and conclude July 19, according to The Athletic. That calendar created a concentrated summer window for hotels in host markets.

NPR reported that the hotel sector had also expected a broader summer boost from the U.S. 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026. That expectation added to pre-tournament optimism before the latest survey showed many host-market hotels trailing their initial forecasts.

The Athletic previously found that hotel prices in host cities had surged after the tournament draw and later fell by more than 40% from peak levels in many U.S. markets. That earlier price movement aligns with the current reports of softer booking pace in multiple host cities.

The record is mixed on whether the current softness will define the full tournament period. AHLA, NPR and The Athletic reported bookings below projections across most U.S. host cities, while Kansas City host organizers and FIFA argued that demand is still building and that broader tournament interest remains strong. The conflict leaves current hotel pacing soft while organizers continue to expect some demand to arrive closer to kickoff.

What's Next

The next scheduled milestone is the tournament itself. According to The Athletic, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to run from June 11 through July 19. Hotels in the 11 U.S. host cities will be watching whether bookings close the gap before that window begins.

AHLA said the sector still sees opportunity from the World Cup but needs a smoother travel experience for international visitors. In the report language quoted by The Athletic, AHLA said forecasts show domestic travelers outpacing international travelers and that the imbalance threatens the broader economic impact the World Cup was expected to generate.

For now, the available record shows a split between strong headline demand and weaker hotel pacing in many U.S. markets. FIFA has cited more than 5 million tickets sold, according to The Athletic, while AHLA's May 4 survey found that most surveyed host-market hoteliers were still below initial booking forecasts.