A new report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association says anticipated demand ‘has not translated into strong hotel bookings’ and that domestic travellers are ‘outpacing’ international visitors.

With less than 40 days to go until kick-off at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the build-up is being driven as much by questions over the event's potential tourism impact as by the nations and players who will take centre stage.

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests the outlook in the United States may be more complex than expected.

In its latest FIFA World Cup 2026 Hotel Outlook, the group warns that anticipated demand “has not translated into strong hotel bookings” and that domestic travellers are “outpacing” international visitors. FIFA room block cancellations, international travel barriers, and rising costs were identified by the AHLA as “key drivers of softened hotel demand”. (Euronews)