The FIFA World Cup has started 11 JuneBringing with it thousands of international soccer fans who are desperate for a place to stay and are willing to pay thousands of dollars for the privilege. As a result, short term rental Hosts stand ready to make money by tripling prices and selling out in seconds.
dizzying earning potential $6,000 per night In some US suburbs, regular homeowners are also looking to revamp their revenue models to take advantage of the football-crazed crowd turning their primary residences to stay at the homes of relatives. cash flow Shock wave.
World Cup 2026: A unique tournament
The 2026 tournament is the first time the games will take place be held Three countries—the United States, Mexico and Canada, with 16 host cities—will host 75% of the games. be played In the US, Mexico and Canada are each hosting 25%, and have an expanded 104-game format that expands the window of peak demand and potential cash flow for short-term rental hosts.
according to new York TimesThe New York-New Jersey region is expecting more than 1 million visitors, and hotels in the host cities are quick to take advantage of this. increasing prices by 300%.
Oasis destroying cash flow amid international visitor drought
For short-term rental hosts, the opportunity to take over a soccer-fueled gold mine is welcome news at a time when foreign travel to the US has declined markedly in the wake of aggressive immigration tactics and conflict in the Middle East.
“Even a perfectly executed World Cup will not solve the underlying structural challenges facing the hotel industry,” said Vijay Dandapani, president of the Hotel Association of New York City. Times.
International inbound travel to the US Declined by nearly 5% in January This is the ninth consecutive month of decline compared to the same period last year, according to the US Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). A 22% year-over-year decline in Canadian visitors could cost the US economy $4.5 billion in 2025. Overall, the U.S. was estimated Lost it $30 billion In tourism dollars.
Popular STR platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and booking.com Understand World Cup amid booking slump Presents A small window of opportunity to offset losses incurred elsewhere in the year.
“This is truly a once-in-a-generation moment,” said Nathan Rotman, Airbnb’s policy strategy director for North America. athletic. “It’s a real opportunity for cities to show themselves, but also to test whether they can accommodate fans.”
Property Manager Bobby Roffel, Joe is managing More than a dozen STR rates triple in New Jersey For Their units expect to generate approximately $240,000 from a single luxury property during the tournament, encouraging hosts to see significant income potential.
“They say, listen, I’ll figure it out. I’ll stay with my relatives for a month or a few weeks to be able to cash in on this revenue,” Ruffel said. bloombergExplaining how owners plan to liquidate their private residences to take advantage of cash flow efficiencies.
$4,000 Income Reality Check
international accounting firm DeloitteCommissioned by Airbnb, it estimated that hosts in American World Cup cities could bring in an average of $4,000 during the tournament, which equates to $262 per night, even in expensive coastal cities. In New York this number reaches an average of $5,700, the highest of all host cities. moreover, Airbnb offers $750 incentive to first-time hosts Use the platform and host your first guests by July 31, 2026.
“Demand to host World Cup on Airbnb is growing, Providing opportunities to residents of host cities “To grow your income by sharing your homes and the communities you love,” Dave Stephenson, Airbnb’s chief business officer, said in a statement shared with Realtor.com. “There has truly never been a better time to become a host on Airbnb.”
Demand Spike and STR Regulation Exemptions
AirDNA is tracking demand for short-term rentals Before the World Cup. As expected, the numbers will change by city and date as we get closer to the games.
Municipalities have implemented Adjust your STR policies to ensure there are enough beds to accommodate the increasing number of visitors. In kansas cityWhich will host six matches and where 650,000 spectators will come are expected This demand has had far-reaching consequences in a city with only 65,000 hotel rooms.
“They (the city) reached out to the Kansas City Alliance and said, ‘Hey, we’re about 500 listings short of what we need. Will you help us bring new hosts to the area?’ Tyne Marcink Hammond, president of the Missouri Vacation Home Alliance, said during an event. episode of Alex and Ani Vacation Rental Podcastas quoted rent responsibly.
The scope of impact for hosts extends far beyond the limits of Kansas City, where short-term rental rules are markedly different, with rental limits and restrictions on non-hosted rentals. These are temporarily forgiven To accommodate the inflow. “They understand the economic benefit and they want it in their community,” Hammond said.
In June 2025, Jackson County legislators proposed an emergency moratorium on the reclassification of short-term rentals from residential to commercial properties. However, the reclassification tripled the tax exposure for some STR owners, angering many of them.
“This is outrageous, and I will absolutely shut it down prior to World Cup,” said Laura Williams, vice president of the Kansas City Short-Term Rental Alliance. KSHB 41.
For smaller landlords who may not have a regulatory attorney, deciphering the maze of changing regulations can potentially result in fines and forced cancellations during a force majeure event. Ironically, New York, led by football-mad Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has some of the strictest STR rules in the country, banning lodging. under 30 days, which it has refused to give up. The move means STR business will move to New Jersey and elsewhere.
Final Thoughts: The World Cup and beyond—where STR landlords can make the most profit
it’s the world cup Presented An interesting debate: How much revenue can STRs generate in major cities hosting major events MakeAnd is it enough to balance the height Cost Of doing business (taxes, insurance, expensive property and interior decoration) in those cities?
For many landlords, the temptation of A High quantity of short term revenue, as a protest Ongoing monthly rental income and the hassle of chasing rent up And dealing with eviction, may be enough Reason Prompting them to change strategies and chase fast cash.
For cities with strict STR rental regulations, such as New York, lobbying efforts by STR companies and strategic affiliations with event organizers, such as Airbnb’s agreement with FIFAThis may make them regret that they are losing tourism revenue. On the other hand, as Deloitte predicts, the average income of $4,000 per month means that unless you have big events going on near your rental property, switching to short-term hosting instead of long-term rentals may be more bang for the buck.
