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Hotel room prices across the United States are being "cut" in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup on home turf for three reasons: steep ticket prices, inflation concerns, and a rising "anti-U.S. sentiment," according to a new report.
Following the group-stage draw in December, reports indicated that hotel prices surged by up to 300% in certain host cities. As the tournament approaches with fewer than two months to go, that trend now appears to be reversing.
Host city room rates on match days have fallen by one-third, according to data from Lighthouse Intelligence cited by the Financial Times.
Director of industry studies at Tourism Economics, Aran Ryan, told the FT that "there's concern about ticket prices, there's concern about border crossings and there's concern about anti-U.S. sentiment—and that's been made worse by the Iran war."
Ticket costs show no signs of easing. With the unregulated resale market operating freely across the U.S. and Canada, there is no ceiling on what fans can charge for tickets originally purchased at face value. Since FIFA stands to collect 30% of every resale transaction, there is little incentive for them to place a cap on this market.
Yet securing a seat in the stadium is just one hurdle in the process of actually attending the World Cup. As U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last year: "Your ticket is not a visa. It doesn't guarantee admission to the U.S."
Obtaining the required legal documentation to enter the U.S. has become a subject of intense scrutiny during President Donald Trump's second term. Two World Cup participants, Haiti and Iran, appeared on the travel ban list issued by the U.S. government at the start of the year, while Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal also face partial entry restrictions.
Even players are not guaranteed smooth access to the tournament. Those representing Algeria, Cape Verde, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and Tunisia may be required to post a $15,000 bond to enter the U.S. when applying for a B-1 or B-2 visa. Fans from 50 countries could face the same financial requirement.
"If hotels were thinking they could demand multi-night stays at premium rates," Ryan said, "maybe expectations were simply set too high."
Everything Else Getting More Expensive
While hotel prices are declining, virtually every other expense appears to be moving in the opposite direction.
Tickets currently remain available only at inflated prices. During the most recent sales window in April, seats for the World Cup final were listed for as much as $10,990—more than 70% above the original price of $6,370 when sales first launched in October.
Even travel to stadiums is set to become more costly. The Athletic reports that train tickets from New York's Penn Station to MetLife Stadium are expected to exceed $100 during World Cup match days. A standard return ticket normally costs just $12.90.
Public transport fares in Massachusetts are set to quadruple over the same period, as states throughout the country look to profit from the world's most-watched sport arriving on U.S. soil. But for how long will this last?
As the hotel market is beginning to demonstrate, demand has not always kept pace with asking prices. The external pressures driving down accommodation costs may soon affect other areas of the tournament, including those sky-high ticket prices. A significant number of seats remain unsold for multiple matches, raising the uncomfortable prospect of half-empty stadiums reminiscent of the poorly attended Club World Cup last summer.