There Are Only 2 U.S. Host Cities Beating World Cup Hotel Forecasts

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released its FIFA World Cup 2026 hotel outlook this week and despite the tournament running for over a month between June 11 and July 19, U.S. host cities are mostly not seeing demand translate into strong bookings.

Drawing on survey data from hoteliers across all 11 U.S. host cities—Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle—the report points to FIFA room block cancellations, international travel barriers, and rising costs as the primary drivers of softened demand, with domestic travelers currently outpacing international visitors.

“Hotels across host markets have spent years preparing for the World Cup, and while there is real excitement, the data points to a more nuanced outlook,” said President & CEO of AHLA Rosanna Maietta.

The disappointment was widespread but uneven, with about 70 percent of hoteliers in San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia, and Boston reported booking pace below expectations, as did more than 60 percent in Los Angeles, New York City, Houston, and Dallas.

Despite this, Atlanta and Miami were the notable exceptions, with hoteliers in both cities reporting booking pace at or ahead of expectations.

Miami has emerged as the strongest performer, with roughly 55 percent of hoteliers reporting booking pace ahead of both expectations and typical summer benchmarks. World Cup-adjacent leisure demand has largely cushioned the blow of international travel headwinds.

Atlanta tells a similar story, with about half of respondents reporting pace in line with or ahead of a typical June and July, supported by team base camps, strong air connectivity, and a diverse mix of demand sources.