World Cup 2026: U.S. Airbnb Hosts Poised for Major Payday, NYC Area Leads

4 hours ago7 min read1 comments

A financial windfall is on the horizon for U. S.Airbnb hosts during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with a new Deloitte study projecting average earnings of approximately $4,000 per listing. The tournament is set to transform a casual side hustle into a strategic opportunity, where location is paramount.Leading the charge is the New York-New Jersey metro area, host of the July 19th final, where average host income is forecast to approach $6,000. This surge is driven by an expected influx of about 2.1 million tourists across the eleven American host cities, with an estimated 232,000 visitors choosing Airbnb. Their spending on lodging, food, and shopping is projected to inject $865 million into local economies.The event fosters community participation, a sentiment shared by hosts like Houston's Sébastien Long, who sees welcoming guests as a way to spread economic benefits citywide—a vision supported by Airbnb's formal partnership with FIFA. Yet, economists like Andrew Zimbalist of Smith College offer a note of caution, pointing out that the net economic impact of mega-events is often complex, with potential for tourist displacement and post-tournament slowdowns.For hosts, the key advice is to scrutinize local short-term rental regulations, which are evolving rapidly ahead of the event. The economic kickoff coincides with the sporting one: on June 12th in Los Angeles, where the U.S. Men's National Team plays Paraguay, average booking rates are already hitting $376 according to AirDNA. Beyond a month of football, the World Cup stands as a large-scale test for the sharing economy, turning neighborhoods into global destinations and homeowners into temporary hospitality entrepreneurs.

#Airbnb

#World Cup 2026

#host cities

#tourism revenue

#short-term rentals

#economic impact

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