Atlanta Airbnb hosts could earn $3M during 2026 World Cup games
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Airbnb hosts in Atlanta and other U.S. World Cup cities could earn $4,000 on average by renting out their homes during the tournament, research from the company shows.
Why it matters: Visiting fans are expected to boost local economies, with Airbnb guests pouring $865 million into accommodations, food, shopping and more nationwide, per a Deloitte study commissioned by the platform.
Zoom in: The study projects about 216,000 people who need places to stay will visit Atlanta and its surrounding cities.
- Deloitte says this includes about 6,000 Airbnb guests, who they expect will contribute 45,000 "guest nights" during the city's eight matches that will be played from June 15 to July 15, 2026.
By the numbers: Airbnb guests are expected to spend $503 per night per person in Atlanta, the study shows.
- This includes: $134 per night for accommodations, $111 at restaurants, $49 on groceries, $62 on shopping, $72 for entertainment, $50 to get around and $24 in "other expenses."
- Collectively, Airbnb guests in Atlanta are projected to spend $23 million while in town for the games.
- The average earnings per host in Atlanta will be about $3,700 throughout the games, with the collective earnings projected at nearly $3 million.
- "These earnings could be particularly impactful for women, who represent 59% of Airbnb hosts in the USA, and for seniors, who represent 20% of hosts," Deloitte's study says.
Zoom out: Roughly 2.1 million tourists needing a place to stay will visit the 11 host cities next year, including an estimated 232,000 Airbnb guests, per the report.
- New York-New Jersey, which hosts the July 19 final, could see nearly $6,000 in average Airbnb earnings — the highest in the group.
- Airbnb has partnered with FIFA to support host cities.
Caveat: As seasoned hosts prep and first-timers consider joining in, homeowners should review local rules before renting out their spaces.
Between the lines: Tourism is the main moneymaker for World Cup cities, Andrew Zimbalist, a professor emeritus of economics at Smith College in Massachusetts, previously told Axios.
- While local businesses and short-term rental hosts may see a boom, economists say the tournament's impact is more complicated than organizers project.
What we're watching: The first match played in the U.S. — USA vs. Paraguay — kicks off June 12 in Los Angeles.
- Bookings for that date already average $376, per AirDNA, a short-term rental analytics firm.