The FIFA World Cup Brings Opportunities to Local Hosts
The FIFA World Cup is set to bring a wave of excitement and economic activity to various cities across the United States, including Arlington, Texas. This suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex will host several matches, creating a unique opportunity for local Airbnb hosts like Jennifer Smith.
Smith, a 55-year-old host from McKinney, Texas, has experienced a surge in demand for her properties. She shared with Business Insider that her two homes are nearly booked for June and July, highlighting the growing interest in the event.
A Growing Trend in Short-Term Rentals
As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup continues, many individuals and businesses are looking to capitalize on this global sporting event. With millions of fans expected to travel to host cities, there is a heightened demand for everything from restaurants and entertainment to accommodations.
Airbnb is making a significant investment in this market by offering $750 to first-time hosts in any of the 16 World Cup host cities across the US, Canada, and Mexico who rent out their homes by July 31, 2026. In a May press release, the company mentioned that since its outreach began in 2025, over 100,000 new short-term rentals have been listed in those cities.
In Dallas, one host is charging $9,130 for a one-night stay in a modest one-bedroom, one-bathroom rental on June 22nd — the same day Argentina and Austria are scheduled to play at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Despite the high prices, 77% of entire-home listings still available for tournament stays are priced below $500 a night.
Personal Experiences and Strategies
Jennifer Smith’s story is just one example of how the FIFA World Cup is impacting local communities. She shared her experience as an Airbnb host, detailing the steps she took to prepare her properties for the influx of international guests.
There are a lot of events happening in Dallas this summer, and the World Cup is definitely one of the biggest. There’s been so much buzz around the city, everyone’s excited. I’m not from a soccer family, so I didn’t realize just how big it was until my husband and I started getting Airbnb bookings from people coming from out of the country. That’s when I thought, “Hey, this is a big deal.”
Smith and her husband own two Airbnb properties just north of McKinney, a suburb of Dallas. They’re about 45 minutes from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, where some of the World Cup matches will be held.
Adjusting to Demand
There’s a lot of demand right now, and prices have adjusted to reflect that. As a host, that’s been really encouraging to see. It’s also been exciting getting our rentals ready for the people who are coming.
Smith has been researching ideas and even using ChatGPT to think through ways she can welcome her international guests and introduce them to Texas and Southern hospitality. Her Airbnbs are booked and busy, and she’s enjoying the experience.
Our Airbnb rentals are two next-door cottages we’ve named the Kentucky Cottage and Derby. They’re both two-bedroom, one-bathroom homes. Between the two of them, I’d say we spent about $75,000 renovating them. That’s definitely on the high end, but these are old, historic homes that were not in good shape.
Pricing and Preparation
On a slow week, our normal rate for each cottage is about $155 per night. On weekends, it usually jumps to around $195 or $200, and during holidays, it’s typically closer to $250 a night. For pricing stays during the tournament, I use Airbnb’s Smart Pricing tool. Basically, I give them my lowest and highest price, which is much more than I would expect to get normally.
For June and July, our rate has about doubled compared with a typical night. I’ve looked at what hotels in the area are charging, and our pricing feels in line with the market. Because of all of the demand, we’re definitely doing a lot better this year than we did last year. We’re fully booked for June and have some availability in July.
Creating Memorable Experiences
We want to make our guests’ stay special. Our World Cup guests have booked stays anywhere from two to seven days. They’re coming to see their team. But outside the stadium, what really matters is how welcome and connected they feel.
Smith and her husband are working with some local vendors on welcome baskets. They’re hoping to include a few things that are specific to where their guests are coming from, along with some Texas and American touches — maybe even bourbon drinks to celebrate this year’s July 4th, America’s 250th birthday.
They’ve also ordered flags for the different countries, and both cottages have welcome boards. When guests arrive, they’ll have something written on them, like “Welcome” and “Best of luck to your team.” They want their guests to feel like they’re excited they’re here and that they’re cheering them on, too.
A Rewarding Experience
I’ll need to be fully aware of where guests are coming from, which team they’re supporting, and even take the extra step to see how their team is doing. And with world events, I’ll also need to be mindful of what’s happening in the news. It’s a lot of work, but worth it.
Their hope is that everything they’re doing, and the money they earn from the cottages, can eventually roll into another property. They always have their feelers out, looking for similar properties — older homes that need work but have potential.
Encouragement for New Hosts
I know a lot of people are hesitant to list their homes on Airbnb, and I was, too. I wondered whether it would be safe to have people in my home. How would they take care of it? But it’s been a fabulous experience. We haven’t had any issues with our house or the neighbors.
Smith encourages anyone thinking about hosting during a major event like the World Cup to do it. It takes time and effort, but it’s a rare chance to extend a hand to the world that’s coming here — I think our world can use that right now.
