Short-term rental demand in Seattle down before World Cup
Six World Cup games in Seattle seemed like an open goal for the city's short-term rental owners. But so far, the market has hit the post, with bookings trailing behind last year's levels.
Seattle is seeing less demand for short-term rentals around game days compared with the same time last year, according to data from the short-term rental data analytics platform AirDNA released Monday.
Demand for short-term rentals in the Seattle area on game days and the preceding days is down 2% year over year, according to AirDNA.
That's not necessarily due to a lack of interest in the tournament. Instead, summer travelers who typically flock to the Seattle area for the sunny months of June and July are likely holding back due to high prices and crowds, said AirDNA economist Jamie Lane.
In a normal year, Seattle's short-term rentals are typically heavily booked in June and July, he said.
"It's a market that is working against peak season," he said.
World Cup fans are filling in those lost bookings - although not entirely.
Total bookings for the first round of the tournament, which lasts between June 11 and 27, are down 4.4% from a year ago in the Seattle area. (AirDNA includes King County cities in its definition of Seattle.)
Still, short-term rental owners who secured bookings throughout Seattle's six World Cup matches between June 15 and July 6 are likely getting a good price, despite the sagging demand.
Short-term rental pricing for booked stays in the Seattle area is up 34% during the World Cup - the second-highest premium of any American host city, according to Bram Gallagher, AirDNA's director of economics and forecasting.
But it isn't game over for short-term rental owners who haven't filled their books yet.
Many expect a wave of bookings in the coming weeks as resale tickets sell and fans find out which teams make it to Seattle's two knockout-round games.
Plus, a last-minute assist from Airbnb could help lingering short-term rental listings score some bookings. The short-term rental giant is offering free World Cup tickets with select bookings in host cities.
Lackluster demand
In the U.S., which hasn't hosted a World Cup since 1994, host cities are buzzing with excitement over the biggest World Cup in history.
The tournament is set to drive record-breaking travel across North America. Overall, demand for short-term rentals during World Cup dates is up 16% year-over-year across host cities, with the steepest growth concentrated in Mexico, according to AirDNA.
In Seattle, which has never hosted a World Cup game, there have been high hopes for the tournament.
Airbnb estimated in February that nearly 150,000 fans from around the world will need lodging throughout Seattle's six World Cup matches between June 15 and July 6. The company even offered $750 to people who rent out their entire homes in World Cup host cities and host guests between late February and the end of July.
The tourism organization Visit Seattle estimated in March that the tournament will draw up to 750,000 visitors and locals to the region.
Some homeowners saw renting out properties to visiting fans as a golden opportunity.
Seattle's stock of around 4,300 short-term rentals has increased 9% from a year ago, according to AirDNA. Around 2.4% of short-term rental listings are only available for the World Cup.
But demand for Seattle's short-term rentals has fallen flat as the tournament draws closer, despite a promising early lead.
Seattle is one of only two host cities, the other being Vancouver, B.C., showing negative growth in short-term rental bookings, according to AirDNA.
Besides a loss in regular summer travelers, Seattle's high booking costs likely contribute to the lackluster demand for short-term rentals, Gallagher said.
The US-Australia game in Seattle on June 19 is one of the most anticipated in the tournament. Short-term rental demand for that day is up 18% over last year and prices up 42%, according to AirDNA.
Free tickets for booking?
Seattle's short-term rental owners aren't the only ones feeling underwhelmed.
Seattle hotel owners expected to be fully booked at some points during the tournament. But demand is looking muted as the games approach.
According to a survey of American Hotel and Lodging Association members in April, nearly 80% of the Seattle industry professionals who responded report that summer's booking pace was falling below their forecasts.
With large events, however, such as the Super Bowl, it's common to see a last-minute wave of bookings, said AirDNA's Lane. Both hotels and short-term rental bookings will likely pick up in the coming weeks.
Free tickets could also sweeten the deal for soccer fans.
Airbnb said Wednesday that select homes will include free World Cup tickets throughout June and July.
Listings that include free tickets will feature a soccer ball icon as a highlight at the top of the listing page, according to an Airbnb news release. Once an Airbnb is booked, the host will share how each member of the party can access their free ticket to local games, "offering premium seats and great views of the pitch," the release said. (The tickets cannot exceed the maximum number of guests allowed in the booking.)
Airbnb said it plans to give out over 1,300 free tickets - including some surprise tickets gifted to guests already booked during the group stage.
With pricey World Cup tickets, that's a deal that almost seems too good to be true. Game tickets, which typically range from a few hundred to thousands of dollars, could very well cost as much as the short-term rental itself.
Airbnb did not respond to questions about where the tickets came from or how it decides which Airbnbs are eligible for the tickets.
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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 9:47 AM.