IN BRIEF
- The “FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook” report has painted a grim picture for the industry.
- The Trump administration said every applicant coming to see the World Cup will face strict vetting.
With the FIFA World Cup just over a month away, hotel bookings in the United States are significantly lagging behind industry projections, according to a business group report.
The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) conducted a survey involving its members across 11 major U.S. cities set to host World Cup matches. These cities range from New York to Los Angeles, and the survey results were made public on Tuesday, AEST.
The findings reveal that 80% of the respondents are experiencing hotel reservations that fall short of their initial expectations. Furthermore, about 65% of those surveyed believe that visa restrictions and wider geopolitical issues are dampening demand.
“While initial enthusiasm has been dampened by various factors, there are positive signs for the future,” stated AHLA President Rosanna Maietta. She emphasized the importance of ensuring that international visitors have a smooth and welcoming experience if the U.S. and FIFA are to capitalize on the event’s potential.
The United States will co-host the World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, with the opening match scheduled for June 11 in Mexico City, and the tournament culminating in a final match in New Jersey on July 19.
The United States is co-hosting the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada, with the first match kicking off on 11 June in Mexico City. The final will be played in New Jersey on 19 July.
US President Donald Trump has frequently touted the country’s host status for world football’s centrepiece event, but he has also launched a wide-ranging crackdown on visas for visitors to the United States.
The Trump administration has assured FIFA that it will facilitate ticket holders with visas, but that every applicant will still face strict vetting.
Fan groups have also expressed concerns about high ticket prices and price gouging on the secondary market, and about transportation costs associated with attending matches.
Respondents to the AHLA survey, released as part of the organisation’s “FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook”, painted a grim picture for the industry.
In Kansas City, bookings were so far below expectations that they lagged below normal rates for June and July.
In Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle, many respondents described the tournament “as a ‘non-event’”, the report said.
Hoteliers also reported that mass room bookings by FIFA, many of which have since been cancelled, had “created an artificial early demand signal”.
“As hotels face a fragmented demand environment and ongoing uncertainty, many are recalibrating strategies or pausing investments in World Cup-specific activations, brand partnerships, and temporary renovations,” the report said.
Responding to the report, FIFA said the room releases were conducted “in line with contractually agreed timelines” and called this “standard practice” for large-scale sports events.
FIFA “maintained consistent discussions with hotel stakeholders,” a spokesperson told Agence France-Presse, adding that global demand for this year’s World Cup was “unprecedented, with more than five million tickets sold”.
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