BY Issah Olegor
Concerns are mounting in the United States over the economic impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a new industry report revealed hotel bookings across several host cities are significantly below expectations just weeks before the tournament begins.
The report, released by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, AHLA. warns that the anticipated tourism and hospitality boom tied to the expanded FIFA World Cup may fail to materialise despite FIFA announcing that more than five million match tickets have already been sold.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11, is expected to be the biggest World Cup in history, featuring 48 participating nations.
Hotels Raise Alarm Over Low Bookings
According to the AHLA, hotel reservations in almost all host cities remain far below projected levels, creating fears that the competition may not generate the economic windfall originally forecast.
The association, which represents more than 32,000 hotel properties and over 80 percent of franchised hotels in the United States, said many businesses invested heavily in preparation for the tournament based on FIFA’s economic projections.
A FIFA-commissioned study released last year projected that the World Cup could generate approximately $17.2 billion in gross domestic product for the US economy while creating more than 185,000 jobs.
However, the latest report suggests those projections are now under threat due to weaker-than-expected international tourism demand.
FIFA Accused Of Creating “Artificial Demand”
The AHLA partially blamed FIFA for the current situation, accusing football’s governing body of reserving excessive numbers of hotel rooms for its own operations before later cancelling large portions of those bookings.
According to the association, FIFA’s booking strategy created “artificial demand” that encouraged hotels to raise prices and prepare for higher occupancy levels than what may ultimately occur.
The report claims that up to 70 percent of rooms initially reserved by FIFA in cities including Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Seattle were eventually released back onto the market.
Industry officials argue that by the time prices began to fall again, many travelling supporters had already made alternative arrangements or abandoned travel plans altogether.
FIFA Rejects Allegations
FIFA has strongly rejected the accusations, insisting all hotel room releases were conducted according to contractual agreements and industry standards.
A FIFA spokesperson stated that room releases were handled within agreed timelines and that communication with hotel operators had been maintained consistently throughout the planning process.
The organisation further argued that accommodation management for tournaments of this scale routinely involves adjustments as ticket sales, team allocations and travel demands evolve.
Rising Costs And Politics Affecting Travel
Beyond accommodation issues, hotel operators believe several other factors are discouraging supporters from travelling to the United States for the tournament.
These include high match ticket prices, expensive local transport systems, taxes and wider political concerns surrounding immigration and travel policies in the US.
Recent controversies over stricter visa requirements, social media vetting policies and heightened immigration enforcement have also generated unease among some international fans considering travel to the tournament.
Fans Searching For Cheaper Alternatives
Supporters planning to attend the World Cup are increasingly opting for budget travel strategies rather than premium hotel bookings.
England fan Chris Hancock, who has attended four previous World Cups, revealed that his group intends to stay outside major city centres to reduce accommodation costs.
The group plans to rent vehicles and stay between 45 minutes and an hour away from host cities to remain within a budget of approximately $75 per person per night.
Despite concerns from traditional hotels, accommodation platform Airbnb says the tournament is already on course to become the largest hosting event in the company’s history, surpassing even the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Knockout Rounds May Offer Last Hope
Hotel operators are now hoping demand may surge during the knockout stages of the competition when supporters typically make late travel arrangements following their teams’ progression.
However, with the opening match rapidly approaching, uncertainty remains over whether the tournament will deliver the level of tourism revenue and economic impact originally predicted for host cities across the United States.
