With six weeks to go before the World Cup, hotels in most U.S. host cities are seeing bookings far below expectations. An industry survey released Monday by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) found reservations lagging initial forecasts, and for some metros — including Kansas City — bookings are even below what a typical June or July would bring.
The AHLA survey, conducted last month and based on 205 respondents representing hotel operators and owners with portfolios across multiple World Cup markets, cites fewer-than-expected international travelers and large cancellations by FIFA as reasons hotels are left with unexpectedly many empty rooms. “Despite more than 5 million tickets sold (for World Cup matches), this demand has not yet translated into strong hotel bookings,” the AHLA said.
The hotel industry had anticipated a strong summer in 2026: the World Cup will be staged across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, with 11 U.S. cities hosting games, and the U.S. is marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence — both factors expected to draw visitors. Overseas travelers are especially valuable because they tend to spend more and stay longer, the AHLA said.
Still, nearly 80% of hotel bookings across host cities are running below initial forecasts, according to the survey. In Kansas City, 85% to 90% of hotels reported bookings below projections.
World Cup organizers in Kansas City pushed back on the survey, telling The Athletic that embassy staff from countries such as the Netherlands are deploying additional personnel in anticipation of many visitors. KC26, the host committee, maintains a projection of 650,000 visitors over the course of the tournament, Visit KC and Kansas City Sports Commission CEO Kathy Nelson told KCUR. KC26 did not immediately reply to an NPR request for comment.
There were some bright spots: about half of survey respondents in Atlanta reported bookings in line with or ahead of projections, while roughly 55% of respondents in Miami reported stronger-than-expected bookings.
The AHLA pointed to several factors deterring international travelers, including perceptions of tighter U.S. immigration policies, lengthy visa wait times, increased visa fees, and uncertainty around entry processing. The group also cited the strong U.S. dollar and concerns about airport screening as contributors to a sense that visiting the U.S. for the World Cup may be more complicated and costly.
FIFA has emphasized strong global interest, calling demand “unprecedented” and saying it expects attendance records to be broken. Meanwhile, White House spokesman Davis Ingle told NPR that the tournament “will no doubt be one of the greatest and most spectacular events in the history of mankind,” and that “President Trump is focused on ensuring that this is not only an incredible experience for all fans and visitors, but also the safest and most secure in history.”