Hotel bookings in the United States are falling short of expectations just over a month before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, raising concerns about the tournament's commercial success in its main host country.
According to AFP on the 5th, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) surveyed member hotels in 11 US cities scheduled to host World Cup matches, including New York and Los Angeles, on their June-July booking status. Eighty percent of respondent hotels said reservations were "below initial expectations." About 65% of respondent hotels cited tightened visa issuance and geopolitical instability as the cause of the slump.
Rising prices within the United States are also emerging as a variable weighing on tourism demand.
The March Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) rose 3.3% from a year earlier, the highest increase since April 2024. The surge was largely driven by a 12.5% jump in energy prices, as gasoline prices soared 18.9% and heating oil 44.2% in the wake of the Iran war. The US national average gasoline price has exceeded $4 per gallon for the first time in about three years, and the April CPI will be released on the 12th (local time). Expensive airfare, transportation costs, and dining expenses are all rising in tandem during the period that overlaps directly with the World Cup schedule.
High ticket prices, price-gouging controversies in the resale market, and soaring transportation costs are also cited as factors making fans hesitate to head to the stadiums.
AHLA President Rosanna Maietta said, "A combination of negative factors has caused us to fall short of expectations, but there is still time to make up for it," urging the US government and FIFA to actively create an atmosphere that welcomes foreign tourists.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted the North American World Cup himself but has maintained strict visa screening principles for visitors entering the United States.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he has been regularly checking the situation with the hotel industry, countering that "more than 5 million tickets for this World Cup have been sold, proving unprecedented demand."
