The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest sporting event ever staged in North America: 48 teams, 104 matches, and 39 days of football across 16 host cities, with the United States alone hosting 78 of those matches, including the final at MetLife Stadium. Unlike a one-night event like the Super Bowl, the World Cup stretches across five weeks and multiple cities. Hotels alone cannot meet that demand, which is why renting out your home during the World Cup has become one of the most talked-about ways for homeowners to earn extra income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite projections of more than 5M match attendees and 6.5M visitors traveling across North America, hotels in U.S. host cities are far from sold out. Match-day occupancy rates have generally struggled to exceed 50%<\/a>, with New York City recording the highest rate at 57% on June 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Affordability is a major factor, but so is the type of traveler attending the tournament. High ticket prices and airfare costs have limited demand from individual fans, while many international visitors are traveling with parents, children, and extended family members. Research commissioned by Airbnb found that 64%<\/a> of respondents consider staying under one roof very important, and 61%<\/a> say short-term rentals better meet the needs of larger travel groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Demand across World Cup host cities has risen by 33%<\/a> compared to last year, outpacing hotels. Airbnb has responded with its largest host recruitment campaign ever, offering a $750 USD<\/a> bonus to eligible first-time hosts and reporting an 80% jump in searches across host cities compared to last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a Deloitte analysis commissioned by Airbnb<\/a>, U.S. hosts are expected to earn around $156 million during the World Cup, averaging about $4,000 per host and $262 per night. Beyond host earnings, Airbnb guest spending is projected to generate roughly $3.6B in economic activity across host cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Expected earnings vary widely by market, with hosts in the New York-New Jersey region projected to earn around $5,700, compared with $1,900 in Philadelphia<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\nHow Much Can Hosts Earn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n