Thousands of Airbnb hosts expecting a World Cup payday are still waiting for guests as a combination of high travel costs, steep ticket prices and restrictive border policies dampen demand.
With the tournament set to begin in June, data from rental firm AirDNA shows that Boston is currently the only host city where more than half of the available inventory has been reserved, at approximately 55 percent, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Other markets are trailing significantly. In Philadelphia, only 42 percent of rentals are occupied for the group stage, while several other cities reported even lower figures.
The sluggish demand comes despite significant investments by homeowners.
Mae Stewart, an Atlanta-based design consultant, told the WSJ that she spent $60,000 renovating her three-bedroom home specifically for the tournament. She is seeking $4,500 for a week-long stay in July — triple her usual rate — but her property remains unbooked.
Experts attribute the slow interest to a mix of economic pressures. Inflation remains high and the conflict in Iran has pushed jet fuel prices upward, making the cost of international travel too expensive for many supporters.
The tournament’s vast geography, too, is creating a financial strain for fans. Unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was held in a concentrated area, the 2026 event spans North America.
The expense of attending the matches themselves is also a primary deterrent.
FIFA does not disclose exact sales figures, but analysts believe thousands of seats remain unsold because of the steep prices. Group stage tickets often cost several hundred dollars, and premium seats for the final on July 19 are reportedly listed for as much as $25,000.
The cost of simply reaching the stadiums has added to the burden. An analysis by The Independent found significant price hikes for transportation in host cities.
In New York, fans may face $150 for a shuttle train to MetLife Stadium or $300 for parking. In Boston, a round-trip commuter rail ticket to Gillette Stadium is priced at $80, while parking can reach $270. Even in cities with cheaper public transit, such as Los Angeles, parking for group stage matches has been set as high as $300.
Political and logistical barriers are also cited as a reason for the lack of international bookings. Human rights groups have expressed concern that strict U.S. immigration policies and travel bans affecting competing nations, including Iran and Senegal, are discouraging foreign visitors from committing to expensive trips.
Airbnb has launched a marketing campaign to address the shortfall, offering $750 bonuses to new hosts and providing earnings calculators to encourage participation.
Juan David Borrero, Airbnb’s global head of partnerships, told the WSJ that the company expected a surge in demand once the tournament began and fans knew if their teams had advanced to later rounds.
“I think we’re going to see more demand as the tournament starts to unfold,” Borrero said, “just because that is the nature of the tournament.”
However, some potential hosts remain skeptical. Zach McKinney, a Seattle resident living near Lumen Field, told the outlet that the risk of property damage and the cost of moving his family into storage outweighed the potential profit.
While some hosts, like Kat Longoria in Houston, refuse to lower their prices in anticipation of a late rush, others are beginning to temper their expectations.
Stewart, the Atlanta-based homeowner, told the outlet that the tournament may not provide the “huge windfall” many had originally envisioned.
