US, Canada and Europe See FIFA World Cup Airfares Soar While Hotels Face an Unexpected Booking Slowdown, Amex GBT Reveals

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FIFA World Cup travel is continuing to reshape global business and leisure travel patterns, with American Express Global Business Travel revealing a striking contrast between soaring airline ticket prices and softer-than-expected hotel demand across tournament host cities. While flights into major destinations have experienced significant fare increases, accommodation providers in several host locations have yet to witness the booking surge many had anticipated as the tournament progresses toward its final match on July 19.

The latest Amex GBT Business Travel Pulse for June highlights how World Cup travel demand, business travel trends, and host city tourism are evolving differently across the aviation and hospitality sectors. Although higher airfares reflect strong passenger demand for tournament-related travel, many hotels continue facing lower occupancy levels than originally forecast, creating an unusual market dynamic during one of the world’s largest sporting events.

FIFA World Cup Continues Driving International Travel Activity

The ongoing FIFA World Cup has continued influencing travel demand across multiple international markets as supporters, business travellers and tourism professionals travel to host cities throughout the competition.

According to American Express Global Business Travel, demand for flights into tournament destinations has remained exceptionally strong. Airline pricing has responded accordingly, reflecting increased competition for available seats as thousands of travellers plan journeys around match schedules.

The tournament is scheduled to conclude with its final match on July 19, meaning travel activity is expected to remain elevated throughout the remaining competition period.

As one of the world’s largest sporting events, the FIFA World Cup has once again demonstrated its ability to influence global travel behaviour, particularly within aviation markets serving host destinations.

Airfares Rise Sharply Across Host Cities

One of the most significant findings contained within the latest Business Travel Pulse concerns the continued increase in airline ticket prices.

Compared with destinations not hosting World Cup matches, airfares into tournament cities have experienced considerably stronger growth.

Domestic flight prices have increased by an average of forty-two per cent compared with the previous year, highlighting the substantial impact that tournament demand has placed on airline capacity.

International routes have also experienced noticeable increases.

Flights operating from Europe into World Cup host cities have recorded average fare increases of thirteen per cent year on year, reflecting sustained international demand from supporters travelling to attend matches.

These developments indicate that airlines continue benefiting from strong passenger demand throughout the tournament despite broader challenges affecting global travel costs.

Hotel Demand Has Not Matched Expectations

While aviation has experienced significant pricing momentum, the accommodation sector has presented a more complex picture.

According to American Express Global Business Travel, more than half of hotel owners operating within World Cup host cities have reported demand levels below both their original tournament forecasts and normal booking patterns typically experienced during June and July.

The findings suggest that although substantial numbers of visitors are travelling for the tournament, hotel occupancy has not increased at the pace anticipated by many accommodation providers.

Several factors may be contributing to this trend, including shorter visitor stays, alternative accommodation choices and varying booking patterns among international travellers.

The softer hotel demand contrasts sharply with the strong performance being recorded across airline markets.

Contracted Hotel Rates Continue Moving Higher

Despite current booking patterns falling below expectations, hotel pricing has nevertheless continued increasing across several World Cup destinations.

Contracted accommodation rates negotiated during the 2026 sourcing season were already higher in host cities before the tournament began.

Toronto recorded one of the strongest increases, where contracted hotel rates rose by 4.8 per cent compared with the previous year.

According to the report, accommodation prices are expected to continue increasing as the tournament progresses, particularly as individual match dates approach and last-minute travel demand strengthens.

Businesses and corporate travel managers are therefore being encouraged to continue monitoring hotel pricing while remaining flexible during ongoing negotiations with accommodation providers in cities where demand has softened.

Business Travel Continues Facing Cost Pressures

Beyond World Cup travel itself, the report also highlights wider trends affecting corporate travel budgets throughout 2026.

During the first quarter of the year, overall business travel prices increased by 8.3 per cent compared with the same period in the previous year.

The rise represented a notable acceleration compared with earlier reporting periods.

During the fourth quarter of 2025, business travel costs had increased by 4.7 per cent, while the third quarter recorded growth of 4.5 per cent.

This progression illustrates how travel expenses have continued rising throughout recent months across multiple sectors of the industry.

Higher Jet Fuel Prices Continue Influencing Airfares

The principal factor contributing to rising business travel costs has remained elevated jet fuel pricing.

Airlines continue facing increased operational expenses associated with fuel procurement, and these additional costs have increasingly been reflected within passenger ticket prices.

The combination of strong World Cup demand and higher fuel costs has created particularly favourable pricing conditions across routes serving tournament destinations.

Although airlines have continued adjusting capacity where possible, demand has remained sufficiently robust to support higher average fares.

This environment has resulted in noticeably different travel costs depending upon destination, route availability and proximity to scheduled matches.

Different Sectors Experience Different Benefits

The latest Business Travel Pulse demonstrates that major international sporting events do not always generate identical outcomes across every segment of the travel industry.

Airlines have generally experienced stronger commercial performance through higher ticket prices driven by concentrated travel demand.

Hotels, however, have encountered a more uneven pattern of bookings despite preparing extensively for increased visitor numbers.

The difference illustrates how traveller behaviour continues evolving.

Some visitors may be reducing accommodation costs by selecting alternative lodging options, shortening their stays or travelling only for specific matches rather than remaining throughout the tournament.

These changing travel habits have created a more balanced accommodation market than many hotel operators originally anticipated.

What This Means for Travellers

For travellers planning journeys during the remainder of the FIFA World Cup, careful preparation continues becoming increasingly important.

Airline fares into host cities are likely to remain elevated, particularly closer to major fixtures and the final stages of the competition.

Booking flights well in advance may therefore provide greater opportunities for securing competitive prices where availability remains.

Accommodation availability may prove more flexible than initially expected in certain host cities, although pricing could continue rising as match dates approach and late bookings increase.

Corporate travellers visiting tournament destinations may also benefit from maintaining flexibility regarding hotel negotiations while closely monitoring changing market conditions.

World Cup Travel Continues Reshaping Global Mobility

The latest analysis from American Express Global Business Travel highlights the powerful influence that the FIFA World Cup continues exerting across international travel markets.

Strong passenger demand has reinforced airline pricing throughout host city networks, while the accommodation sector has experienced a more measured performance despite substantial expectations before the tournament.

As the competition approaches its concluding stages on July 19, further fluctuations in airfare levels and hotel demand remain possible.

For airlines, hotels and corporate travel planners alike, the tournament continues providing valuable insights into how global sporting events increasingly shape travel behaviour, pricing strategies and destination demand. The differing performance observed across aviation and hospitality also illustrates the complexity of today’s travel marketplace, where passenger movement, accommodation choices and booking behaviour continue evolving in response to changing traveller priorities.