Airbnb Launches Earnings Calculator for FIFA World Cup 2026 Hosts

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 less than three months away, Airbnb is moving to capture a surge in accommodation demand by launching a dedicated tool to recruit hosts in tournament cities.

Airbnb on April 8 launched a Host Earnings Calculator specifically tailored to the FIFA World Cup 2026, marking the first time the platform has built an event-specific earnings tool. The calculator generates individualized estimates for residents of the 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the US based on their hosting preferences — including timing, listing type, and duration — and benchmarks against similar listings during the tournament.

The timing reflects significant demand: Airbnb says searches for stays in host cities during the tournament are already up 80% year-over-year, and roughly one in six guests booking for the tournament in the three host countries are using Airbnb for the first time.

To further incentivize new hosts, the company is offering $750 to anyone who lists an entire home in a host city and completes their first guest stay by July 31 — its largest-ever new-host incentive. As of late February, around 80% of available listings in host cities were priced below $500 per night.

"The FIFA World Cup 2026 is approaching fast, and fans from around the world are looking for places to stay in the communities we all call home," said Dave Stephenson, Chief Business Officer at Airbnb. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for locals to open their doors and earn from the biggest sporting event on the planet."

A Focaldata survey of 6,000 host-city residents commissioned by Airbnb found that nearly 90% said extra hosting income would positively affect their financial situation. The most cited uses: paying down debt (40%), covering living expenses (35%), and making home improvements (33%).

Airbnb also released new data on trending neighborhoods in host cities — areas recording the largest year-over-year booking increases during tournament dates — to highlight hosting opportunities beyond traditional tourist districts.

The Host Earnings Calculator is available at Airbnb's website.