FIFA World Cup to Kick Off Early June, US Hotel Bookings Far Below Expectations
With less than a month until the FIFA World Cup kicks off, a survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association indicates that related hotel bookings are far below industry expectations. Over half of the surveyed operators cited visa barriers and geopolitical concerns as the primary reasons for limited demand.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 09:31
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(Central News Agency, Washington, 5th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) With less than a month until the FIFA World Cup kicks off, a survey by the American Hotel and Lodging Association indicates that related hotel bookings are far below industry expectations. Over half of the surveyed operators cited visa barriers and widespread geopolitical concerns as the primary reasons for limited demand.
Agence France-Presse reported that the American Hotel and Lodging Association conducted a survey of its members in 11 US metropolitan areas from New York to Los Angeles that are hosting FIFA World Cup matches.
The results released yesterday showed that 80% of surveyed operators stated hotel bookings were lower than expected; approximately 65% listed visa barriers and broad geopolitical concerns as the main reasons for sluggish demand.
Rosanna Maietta, president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, stated, "A series of factors have dampened prior optimistic expectations, but leading indicators still suggest considerable opportunities."
The current FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The first match will kick off on June 11th in Mexico City, and the final is scheduled for July 19th in New Jersey.
US President Trump has recently frequently endorsed this major football event as the host, but at the same time, has significantly tightened visas to the US.
The Trump administration has assured FIFA that it will assist ticket holders with visa applications but emphasized that each application will still undergo strict scrutiny.
Fan groups have also expressed concerns about high ticket prices, secondary market price gouging, and transportation costs related to attending matches.
The survey, published under the title "FIFA 2026 World Cup Hotel Outlook," painted a bleak picture from surveyed operators. In Kansas City, bookings were far below expectations, even lower than typical levels for June and July. In Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, many respondents described the event as "unremarkable."
Hotel operators also stated that FIFA first block-booked a large number of rooms and then massively canceled them, "creating an artificial illusion of early demand."
The report stated, "As hotels face an environment of dispersed demand and continued uncertainty, many operators are readjusting strategies or postponing investments in World Cup-themed activities, brand partnerships, and temporary renovations."
A FIFA spokesperson noted that the federation "continues to communicate with hotel industry stakeholders" and added that World Cup ticket demand is "unprecedentedly strong, with over 5 million tickets already sold." (Compiler: Qu Xiangping) 1150506
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Agence France-Presse reported that the American Hotel and Lodging Association conducted a survey of its members in 11 US metropolitan areas from New York to Los Angeles that are hosting FIFA World Cup matches.
The results released yesterday showed that 80% of surveyed operators stated hotel bookings were lower than expected; approximately 65% listed visa barriers and broad geopolitical concerns as the main reasons for sluggish demand.
Rosanna Maietta, president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, stated, "A series of factors have dampened prior optimistic expectations, but leading indicators still suggest considerable opportunities."
The current FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The first match will kick off on June 11th in Mexico City, and the final is scheduled for July 19th in New Jersey.
US President Trump has recently frequently endorsed this major football event as the host, but at the same time, has significantly tightened visas to the US.
The Trump administration has assured FIFA that it will assist ticket holders with visa applications but emphasized that each application will still undergo strict scrutiny.
Fan groups have also expressed concerns about high ticket prices, secondary market price gouging, and transportation costs related to attending matches.
The survey, published under the title "FIFA 2026 World Cup Hotel Outlook," painted a bleak picture from surveyed operators. In Kansas City, bookings were far below expectations, even lower than typical levels for June and July. In Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle, many respondents described the event as "unremarkable."
Hotel operators also stated that FIFA first block-booked a large number of rooms and then massively canceled them, "creating an artificial illusion of early demand."
The report stated, "As hotels face an environment of dispersed demand and continued uncertainty, many operators are readjusting strategies or postponing investments in World Cup-themed activities, brand partnerships, and temporary renovations."
A FIFA spokesperson noted that the federation "continues to communicate with hotel industry stakeholders" and added that World Cup ticket demand is "unprecedentedly strong, with over 5 million tickets already sold." (Compiler: Qu Xiangping) 1150506
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.