As the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfolds across host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the anticipated surge in tourism appears to be falling short of expectations in several locations. While the tournament was projected to draw more than six million fans and generate up to $80 billion in economic impact globally, hospitality officials report a more uneven picture, with some cities seeing slowed visitor growth and declining hotel bookings.

In Vancouver, British Columbia, Julie Rahaman, an accountant from Alberta, experienced firsthand the rollercoaster of hotel prices. After initially facing room rates as high as 1,400 Canadian dollars per night, she canceled her tickets due to cost concerns, only to rebook at a five-star hotel later at dramatically reduced rates comparable to last year’s prices. Such price volatility has been echoed across numerous host cities, where inflated hotel rates—sometimes reaching five times their usual rates—have since declined sharply.

Data from CoStar, a real estate analytics firm, indicates that major markets including New York, Toronto, and Miami have seen hotel bookings on match days drop below year-ago levels. According to the data tracker Lighthouse Intelligence, Vancouver and Monterrey, Mexico, have experienced some of the steepest price decreases. Meanwhile, international travel figures do not align with initial projections; aviation data from Cirium shows flight reservations from the European Union to most host cities during June and July have decreased compared with last year, with bookings to New York’s Kennedy Airport down over 15% and San Francisco International Airport nearly 10%.

Some industry observers remain cautiously optimistic. Jan Freitag, CoStar’s national director of hospitality analytics, noted that the overall hotel market could still post gains compared to last year, though the outlook remains in flux as the tournament progresses.

Kansas City, Missouri, provides a contrasting case. Data from Visit Kansas City reveals a 32% increase in hotel bookings compared to last year across all six match periods, supported by a surge in short-term rentals following relaxed permitting rules. The city’s central location in the U.S. and a schedule featuring high-profile teams like Argentina and the Netherlands have contributed to strong demand, with Argentine-origin bookings at Kansas City International Airport reportedly up more than 2,000%. However, hospitality leaders caution that visitors are staying for shorter durations and occupancy fluctuates between matches.

In contrast, New York’s hospitality sector has substantially lowered its expectations. The Hotel Association of New York City halved its forecast for World Cup-related hotel revenue growth to $100 million, describing demand as “hugely disappointing and underwhelming.” The city, expected to host 1.2 million visitors, is now anticipating closer to 400,000. Factors cited for the softening include elevated costs, reduced business travel, the tournament’s venues being located in New Jersey rather than New York proper, and ongoing international travel challenges. Seattle similarly reports declines in bookings across flights, hotels, and short-term rentals compared to the prior year.

Despite the hesitant start, some travelers are capitalizing on the unexpected drop in prices. Kenneth Walden, an IT professional from Austin, Texas, managed to rebook discounted refundable rooms for multiple group-stage games, saving hundreds of dollars per night. Conversely, others remain frustrated by early, non-refundable high rates. Health care consultant Tom Boyer from California noted a “serious erosion” in hotel prices after booking in Vancouver, highlighting the difficulties in obtaining any compensation from hotel operators.

As the tournament continues, hospitality executives remain hopeful for a surge in last-minute travel connected to later-stage matches. Many industry experts observe that fans are booking closer to game dates and opting for shorter stays, complicating forecasting efforts. Whether the World Cup will meet FIFA’s lofty economic projections or fall short remains to be seen, but the early data underscores a more complex and uneven impact on host city tourism.