What’s Happening
Hotel owners in several 2026 World Cup host cities in the United States are looking at softer-than-expected reservations even as the tournament approaches and promotional activity intensifies. In cities such as Kansas City, Houston, Miami and New York, the stadium banners, bar decorations and merchandise are already part of the backdrop, but many hotels say their booking pace has not yet matched the level they anticipated.
The concern matters beyond the U.S. because the World Cup will be the largest edition ever staged, with matches spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Panama’s readers will be following the tournament closely both as football fans and as travelers, especially if they plan to attend matches or connect through the region’s major air hubs.
Why Hoteliers Are Nervous
In Houston, Deidre Mathis, who owns the Wanderstay Boutique Hotel, said reservations for the tournament period were running below expectations. She said the property was at 45% capacity for the World Cup window, compared with 70% at the same point last year. Her hotel sits within walking distance of the planned fan zone and a short drive from the stadium, making the current pace of bookings especially striking for a host city venue.
Mathis described the situation as a mix of forces: political tension in the United States, immigration enforcement activity in multiple cities, rising living costs, and the steep price of tickets. Those factors, combined with uncertainty over how far each team will progress, may be encouraging fans to delay booking until later in the calendar.
The hotel sector’s frustration also reflects a broader lesson from major tournaments: early enthusiasm does not always translate into immediate room nights. Many travelers wait until they know where their team is playing, how long they will stay, and whether package prices are manageable before committing to hotels and flights.
High Prices Are Changing Behavior
Ticket prices are shaping the atmosphere around the event. The most expensive official seats for the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey were listed at up to US$32,970, while resale prices have climbed far higher in some cases. That level of pricing has fueled criticism from fans and hotel operators alike, who fear the tournament risks becoming too costly for average supporters.
Hotel executives also point to visa processing as another factor that could affect travel plans. Faster processing would help fans make firm decisions earlier, while delays could push more travelers toward last-minute reservations or deter them altogether.
Airbnb and the Late Surge
Not every lodging business is seeing the same pattern. Airbnb says the World Cup is shaping up to be the biggest accommodation event in its history, suggesting that flexible rentals may be capturing demand that traditional hotels have not yet secured. That split is important for host cities because it can reshape how visitors spread across neighborhoods, rates and transport networks during the tournament.
Industry groups are still betting on a late surge. The American Hotel & Lodging Association says many hotels in host cities are seeing weaker demand than expected, though it also notes that some fans may simply be waiting for schedules and matchups to become clearer before reserving rooms.
What to Watch Next
The next few weeks will show whether the World Cup booking curve follows the familiar last-minute pattern seen in other major sports events. Hotels in host cities are now leaning into themed programming, watch parties and fan experiences in hopes of converting interest into reservations.
For Panama’s audience, the key takeaway is practical: anyone planning to travel for the tournament should expect higher prices, tighter availability near match venues and more competition for flights and lodging as the first whistle approaches.