The American Hotel & Lodging Association warns that the 2026 World Cup tourism boom is faltering as US hotels face low occupancy rates, heavily blaming FIFA for creating artificial demand and subsequently canceling massive blocks of rooms.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) has warned that the anticipated economic boom from the FIFA World Cup 2026 may fall short, with hotel bookings trailing well below expectations across US host cities. The association placed partial blame on FIFA, accusing world football’s governing body of triggering artificial price spikes by block-booking excessive rooms, only to cancel up to 70% of those reservations in major cities like Los Angeles and Boston.
FIFA firmly rejected the accusations, stating that all room releases adhered to contractually agreed timelines. Meanwhile, international fans are reportedly opting for alternative lodging or staying outside city centers due to high ticket prices and steep local costs. Longtime England supporter Chris Hancock shared his group’s strategy to navigate the expensive market, stating: “We always tend to stay out of town a little bit and cut the cost that way, so we’re not in the middle of Dallas, Boston or New York.”
NEWS NOW:
