FIFA World Cup’s STR, Hotel Bookings Fall Short of Predictions

News| June 5, 2026| Monte Stewart

Short-term rental hosts and hotels in Vancouver and Toronto are reporting lower-than-expected bookings ahead of soccer’s FIFA men’s World Cup, despite earlier expectations that the tournament would trigger a surge in accommodation demand, The Globe and Mail reported.

Some Airbnb hosts in both cities say reservations have failed to materialize even as tournament dates approach, according to the Globe. Vancouver host May Chu told the Globe she has not received any bookings for her two-bedroom guest suite during the World Cup period despite lowering rates.

“It is incredibly strange how there are no bookings. Back in December, 2025, my pricing software was estimating $2,000 per night. Then, it keeps going down,” Chu told her interviewer.

Toronto will host six World Cup matches between June 12 and July 2, while Vancouver will host seven matches between June 13 and July 7.

Chu told the Globe her suite, which is typically booked throughout June, remains vacant despite being listed at $440 per night.

Shelby Lim, who rents out a condo near World Cup venue B.C. Place in Vancouver, has also seen demand disappear during the tournament period despite steady bookings before and after the event window.

“I have bookings all the way up to the day before FIFA starts. Then, I start being booked solid again in July,” she told the Globe.

Lim had expected nightly rates between $1,000 and $1,500 during the tournament but is now charging less than $500.

“I spent quite a bit of money upgrading,” said Lim in the interview with the Globe. “I am going to be losing money at this point.”

Toronto hosts are reporting similar challenges. Matthew Collins, a first-time Airbnb host in Mimico near BMO Field, told the Globe interest in his one-bedroom apartment has been limited despite pricing below competing listings.

“My rates are below what seems to be competitive,” he told his interviewer. “I think the market’s just flooded.”

In February, Airbnb launched a $1,000 incentive program for North American hosts listing properties in World Cup host cities and securing bookings before July 31. Roughly 4,000 new hosts have registered across Vancouver and Toronto since Oct. 1, the Globe reported, citing figures that the company provided.

“We are finding about 80% of listings in Toronto and 70% of listings in Vancouver still available and priced under $500 a night,” Matt McNama, Airbnb’s spokesperson in Canada, told the Globe.

Hotels are also seeing softer-than-expected demand. According to Destination Vancouver, hotel bookings across Vancouver are down 20% in June compared with the same period last year.

“It is a little slower than expected, but we are starting to see a little bit of pickup,” Destination Vancouver chief executive officer Royce Chwin told the Globe.

“You have an audience most likely following their teams and who may fly where their team is playing,” he said.

Sara Anghel, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, told the Globe there is “softer demand for room nights during the games than anticipated” in Toronto, attributing it partly to cancelled room blocks and rescheduled conferences.

Destination Toronto President and CEO Andrew Weir told the Globe the tournament should be viewed beyond short-term occupancy levels.

“FIFA hosting this event is just an enormous opportunity for our city,” he told his interviewer.

“There is still quite a lot that we expect we’ll fill in. Whether or not it surpasses previous Junes is impossible to know right now.”

Pictured: Vancouver with BC Place Stadium in the foreground.

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