Hotels in 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are reporting weaker-than-expected bookings [1, 2, 3].
The shortfall threatens the projected economic boom associated with the tournament, suggesting that initial tourism forecasts may have been overly optimistic [1, 2].
Reports from early May indicate that 80 percent of hotels are seeing bookings fall short of their expectations [3]. These findings come just five weeks before the tournament is scheduled to begin in June [2].
Industry analysts point to a combination of factors driving the low demand. Economic slowdowns and political instability, specifically a trend described as the “Trump slump,” are cited as primary contributors to the decrease in international travel [4].
Retailers are also expressing concern that the event may not produce the anticipated financial bonanza [5]. The gap between projected and actual demand has left hospitality managers in the 11 host cities questioning the scale of the tourism surge [1].
While the event was expected to draw millions of visitors, current data suggests that travel patterns are not aligning with those predictions [3]. This trend reflects a broader struggle to translate the global popularity of the sport into immediate hotel occupancy in the U.S. [6].
“80 percent of hotels are seeing bookings fall short of their expectations”
The disparity between projected and actual hotel bookings suggests that geopolitical and economic headwinds may outweigh the inherent draw of the FIFA World Cup. If occupancy rates do not recover before the June start date, the tournament's overall economic impact on U.S. host cities will likely be significantly lower than the figures used to justify infrastructure and hosting investments.
