The countdown to the FIFA World Cup is on, and people and businesses across the country are looking for ways to cash in on one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
Millions of fans are expected to travel to host cities, fueling demand for everything from restaurants and entertainment to places to stay.
Airbnb is betting on it. The company is 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, Airbnb said that since it began its outreach in 2025, more than 100,000 new short-term rentals have been listed in those cities.
In Dallas, one Airbnb 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.
Airbnb said 77% of entire-home listings still available for tournament stays are priced below $500 a night.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jennifer Smith, 55, who is renting out her McKinney, Texas, cottages on Airbnb during the FIFA World Cup. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Zerb Mellish for BI
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.”
We 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.
Zerb Mellish for BI
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.
I’ve been researching ideas and even using ChatGPT to think through ways we can welcome our international guests and introduce them to Texas and Southern hospitality.
Our Airbnbs are booked and busy
My husband and I have done long-term rentals with other properties we’ve owned, but short-term rentals are new to us.
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.
Zerb Mellish for BI
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.
Courtesy of Airbnb
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.
I wouldn’t have thought that many people would want to come to Texas during the summer because it’s pretty hot here, but the World Cup and other events are bringing them.
We want to make our guests’ stay special
Zerb Mellish for BI
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.
My husband and I are working with some local vendors on welcome baskets. We’re hoping to include a few things that are specific to where our 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.
We’ve also ordered flags for the different countries, and both cottages have welcome boards. When guests arrive, we’ll have something written on them, like “Welcome” and “Best of luck to your team.” We want them to feel like we’re excited they’re here and that we’re cheering them on, too.
Zerb Mellish for BI
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
Our hope is that everything we’re doing, and the money we earn from the cottages, can eventually roll into another property. We always have our feelers out, looking for similar properties — older homes that need work but have potential.
Zerb Mellish for BI
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.
I’d encourage 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.
Courtesy of Airbnb
We love our community, and we want people to experience it. This feels like such a great opportunity to get to know people, be a blessing to them, and be blessed in return.
