Brazilian fan Noah Silva Castro, 1, kicks an inflatable soccer ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw watch party at the Amphitheater Doral Central Park on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, in Doral, Fla.
Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
South Florida’s short-term rental market is heating up ahead of the World Cup.
The Brazil-Scotland group stage match on June 24 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens continues to be the top draw for travelers seeking lodging of the entire 2026 World Cup. The Colombia-Portugal game, played three days later at the same venue, is right behind, in second place overall.
These findings come from data analytics firm AirDNA, which tracks short-term rental Airbnb and Vrbo data. AirDNA provided the numbers, current through Feb. 17, to the Miami Herald.
Miami-Fort Lauderdale is one of 16 host cities or metropolitan areas in the World Cup, which this year is co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada. So, the tournament’s 72 group stage matches are spread out.
Yet, South Florida has 4 of the top 10 in drawing short-term rentals.
Kilts, bikinis and Cristiano Ronaldo
For the Brazil-Scotland battle, 12,614 bookings have been made the eve or night of the match.
Uruguay vs Cape Verde on June 21 is also popular, in sixth place overall and ahead of any match by European soccer powers Spain, Germany or Holland or defending champ Argentina. An elimination stage match is in 10th place.
While the number of bookings in the region has jumped significantly, prices haven’t as much.
Average booked rate in Miami-Fort Lauderdale for group stage matches is $296 a night, only 18% higher than the same period in 2025, a reflection of abundant supply in South Florida. Still, that rate is the third highest among host cities.
Airbnb
The increase in interest comes as Airbnb is launching a new campaign.
The one-time tech startup which transformed the lodging industry, has launched a new program ahead of the World Cup to reward first-time hosts.
People willing to rent out their entire homes in any of the 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico or the United States, and who receive their first guests between Feb. 19 and July 31, 2026, will receive $750 as a reward from Airbnb. That’s on top of what they earn hosting.
The move was a response to “surging demand,” the company said Feb. 19 in an announcement unveiling the initiative.
The program is described as the company’s “biggest new host incentive ever,” Dave Stephenson, chief business officer, said in a statement. “Demand for World Cup stays is surging, giving residents of host cities the opportunity to boost their incomes by sharing their homes and the communities they love.”
Hotels are still expected to account for the majority of accommodations during the World Cup, according to a report by AirDNA. Yet Airbnb estimates that more than 380,000 guests will stay in Airbnb listed homes during the tournament. That will contribute $3.6 billion to the economies of local host cities.
“Short-term rentals are expected to play a critical supporting role,” said the AirDNA report.
Most host cities are already seeing large increases in demand, AirDNA data shows.
Overall, No. 1 Guadalajara is experiencing a 1,159% jump in demand for eve of game and night of game, compared to the same dates one year earlier. Monterrey and Mexico City are second and third. Kansas City, in fourth, is the U.S. city with the biggest increase, 345%, followed by Dallas Fort Worth and Miami, which has a 159% increase.
For those looking to participate in the new Airbnb initiative, there are several terms and conditions to note.
Eligibility for Airbnb initiative
You must be a new host on Airbnb or have no active home listings as of Feb. 1, 2026.
You must provide your information on the reward landing page before you publish the listing, or have received the offer directly from Airbnb by email.
Publish a listing for an entire home in an eligible event zone in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico.
Complete that reservation for a total price of at least $100 USD before taxes on or before July 31, 2026.
AirDNA’s Price Calculator
The firm AirDNA, unrelated to Airbnb, has an online tool that gives hosts or future hosts a way to estimate how much they can charge and earn from renting out their place during the World Cup. The site, Discover Your World Cup 2026 Earning Potential, allows people to enter their addresses and research pricing. AirDNA says it will remain live throughout the World Cup for those who wait until the last minute.