World Cup 2026 Hotel Bookings Fall Short of Expectations

A report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) reveals that hotel bookings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup venues are "well short" of expected levels, despite the sale of five million tickets. The tournament, set to kick off in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, is just over a month away.

In Los Angeles, nearly 80% of hotels believe their occupancy levels will fall short of predictions. The report indicates that only 65% of hotel bookings have met demand, attributing this shortfall to potential shortcomings in FIFA's booking policies and the timing of room releases by hotel partners.

Factors such as inflation, increased airfare, fuel prices, visa acquisition issues, and global geopolitical events are also influencing travel and tourism. Despite these challenges, FIFA anticipates generating between $11 billion and $13 billion in income from the tournament, with expectations for higher tourism numbers in host cities.