Is the World Cup a Tourist Bust? Hotels Blaming FIFA for a Lag in Bookings
The upcoming World Cup in the U.S. is facing disappointing hotel bookings, with many blaming FIFA for the situation. Hotels report that high prices and block-booking practices have led to a lack of availability and affordability for fans. As a result, Airbnb is experiencing record business, indicating a shift in accommodation preferences among attendees.
- ▪Hotel bookings for the World Cup are well below expectations in almost every host city.
- ▪The American Hotel & Lodging Association blames FIFA for artificially high pricing due to block-booking too many rooms.
- ▪Airbnb is set to have its biggest hosting event in history, surpassing the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Is the World Cup a Tourist Bust? Hotels Blaming FIFA for a Lag in Bookings Rick Moran | 9:49 AM on May 21, 2026 AP Photo/Francisco Seco The 1994 World Cup, hosted by the United States, ranks first in overall attendance and average match attendance in World Cup history. The final match drew 94,194 fans at the Rose Bowl. More than a billion people watched the game on TV worldwide. Advertisement googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display("div-gpt-300x250_3"); //googletag.pubads().refresh([gptAdSlot["div-gpt-300x250_3"]]) }); The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) had taken a huge gamble holding its premier event in the United States.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at PJ Media.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from PJ Media
