New data shows the tournament's income impact varied far more dramatically than most expected
Short-term rental owners in the 11 US cities that hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw a 60% year-over-year increase in rental income during June, according to new data from Baselane, a banking and bookkeeping platform for real estate investors.
Among non-host markets, the same cohort of Baselane customers recorded just 11% income growth over the same period.
Baselane drew its findings from customer payout transactions processed through platforms including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and Guesty, isolating customers who were active during both comparison periods.
The figures reflect activity within Baselane's customer base and are not estimates for the broader US rental market.
The platform also recorded a 79% month-over-month jump in short-term rental payouts from May to June in host markets, exceeding both seasonal norms and the growth rate in comparable non-host cities over the same window in 2025.
For mortgage brokers advising investor clients, the data adds useful context to the conversation around investment property financing and short-term rental income assessment: demand from major events can sharply alter a property's income profile, but only where local regulation permits it.
City-by-city: where the tournament money landed
Miami led all 11 cities with a year-over-year increase of more than 709% between May and June compared with the same period in 2025, followed by Kansas City at 607% and Dallas-Fort Worth at 587%.
Atlanta and Houston each exceeded 200%, the San Francisco Bay Area climbed 156%, while New York and New Jersey grew 23% and Los Angeles just 12%.
| Host city | Regulation | YoY income change |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | Broadly permitted | +709% |
| Kansas City | Broadly permitted | +607% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Broadly permitted | +587% |
| Atlanta | Broadly permitted | +219% |
| Houston | Broadly permitted | +214% |
| San Francisco Bay Area | Broadly permitted | +156% |
| Seattle | Broadly permitted | +69% |
| Philadelphia | Broadly permitted | +68% |
| Boston | Highly regulated | +45% |
| New York / New Jersey | Highly regulated | +23% |
| Los Angeles | Highly regulated | +12% |
Individual operators reported especially sharp gains. A single-property owner in Atlanta generated approximately $16,000 in four weeks during the tournament, against a typical monthly income of roughly $1,200.
In Dallas-Fort Worth, a nine-property operator brought in roughly $25,000 during the same window, compared with approximately $11,000 in a normal month.
A 23-unit Seattle-based operator generated approximately $216,000 over four weeks, more than double the typical monthly pace.
"The World Cup created a meaningful revenue opportunity for short-term rental owners, but the impact varies dramatically by city," said Mathias Korder, CEO of Baselane.
"The strongest gains are concentrated in markets where visitor demand is high and short-term rental activity is more broadly permitted, while highly regulated cities are seeing a much smaller lift."
Why local rules determine who captures the gain
Baselane's analysis found short-term rental income in host markets where the practice is broadly permitted increased 421% year over year. Markets with moderate restrictions rose 75%.
Highly regulated markets — including New York, Los Angeles, and Boston — grew just 18%, despite strong visitor demand throughout the tournament.
The disparity mirrors a wider pattern around the impact of regulation on real estate investor activity playing out across US markets this year. Permissive local zoning and licensing conditions proved as consequential to returns as location or demand.
"Major events like the World Cup can create a significant revenue opportunity for short-term rental owners, but local market conditions determine how much of that demand they can actually capture," Korder added.
"Owners need to understand not just that revenue increased, but where the gains came from, how costs changed, and whether the lift reflects a one-time event or a longer-term investment opportunity."
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