Kansas City Outpaces Seattle and More Cities in US, Mexico and Canada as FIFA World Cup 2026 Airbnb Hosts Earn Higher Five-Star Reviews Across 15 Host Markets

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Airbnb Hosts Earn Higher Five-Star Reviews Across 15 Host Markets, according to AirDNA research. New short-term rental properties across the United States, Canada and Mexico received stronger guest feedback than comparable listings in 2025, highlighting accommodation performance during one of international football’s largest tourism events.

World Cup 2026 Airbnb Hosts Deliver Stronger Guest Experiences Across North America

New research from short-term rental analytics company AirDNA has revealed how accommodation providers responded to the exceptional demand generated by the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The findings show that recently introduced Airbnb properties generally received better guest ratings than comparable new listings during the previous summer.

The tournament, staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, created opportunities for homeowners and accommodation businesses to welcome international football supporters. It also raised questions about whether a rapid increase in available rental properties would affect hospitality standards.

AirDNA’s research, published on 8 October 2026, offers an encouraging assessment. New properties achieved higher average star ratings in 14 of the 16 host markets, while the proportion of five-star reviews for new listings increased in 15 markets.

The World Cup is behind us, bur Airbnb reviews are now in! Our Chief Economist Jamie Lane looked at how short-term rentals in the 16 host cities did with guests, and the first-time hosts who listed for the tournament did better than he expected.

Across all properties, including established accommodation, 15 host markets also recorded an increase in five-star review share.

The distinction matters because average ratings, five-star review percentages and market-wide performance measure different aspects of the guest experience.

“The FIFA World Cup 2026 demonstrates how major sporting events can create opportunities for accommodation providers and tourism destinations. Strong guest reviews across North America highlight the importance of hospitality standards, reliable services and visitor satisfaction. These findings offer encouraging lessons for destinations preparing to welcome international travellers in future.” Anup Kumar Keshan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Travel And Tour World

Kansas City Emerges as a Leading World Cup Accommodation Market

Kansas City recorded the highest proportion of five-star reviews among newly introduced Airbnb properties, reaching 90.2 per cent. The result represented an improvement of 2.1 percentage points compared with comparable new listings in 2025.

Its average new-listing rating reached approximately 4.85 out of five, placing it at the top of AirDNA’s ranking.

The performance was particularly notable because Kansas City experienced the largest accommodation supply expansion among the tournament’s host markets.

Available short-term rental listings increased by approximately 76 per cent during June and July compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Meanwhile, the number of new properties receiving reviews during those months rose from approximately 280 in 2025 to nearly 1,300 in 2026.

Despite the considerable increase in participating properties, guest feedback remained positive.

Across the entire Kansas City accommodation market, the proportion of five-star reviews increased from 87.8 per cent to 89.7 per cent.

The findings suggest that the introduction of additional accommodation did not automatically result in weaker guest ratings.

For destination authorities, Kansas City’s experience provides an example of how residential accommodation can supplement existing visitor capacity during a major international sporting event.

Seattle and San Francisco Bay Area Maintain High Guest Ratings

Seattle emerged as another leading destination for newly listed Airbnb accommodation.

The city achieved a five-star review share of 89.9 per cent, an improvement of 2.1 percentage points from 2025. Its average new-listing rating reached approximately 4.84 stars.

Seattle’s available short-term rental supply also increased by 17 per cent during June and July.

The San Francisco Bay Area recorded an 88.8 per cent five-star review share among new properties, an improvement of two percentage points.

Unlike most host markets, however, the Bay Area experienced a five per cent reduction in available accommodation supply.

This difference illustrates why rental inventory and guest satisfaction should be examined independently.

Seattle combined expanding supply with stronger guest feedback, while the Bay Area achieved a high proportion of five-star reviews despite a smaller overall inventory.

For travellers, the results highlight the importance of considering individual property reviews rather than assuming that newer accommodation necessarily provides a less reliable experience.

Vancouver Records the Largest Improvement in New Airbnb Reviews

Vancouver delivered the strongest year-on-year improvement in the proportion of five-star reviews for new properties.

The Canadian destination recorded an increase of 4.8 percentage points, reaching 85.9 per cent in 2026.

Its average rating for new listings also improved substantially, rising from approximately 4.70 stars in 2025 to 4.79 stars in 2026.

The increase was particularly significant because Vancouver simultaneously experienced a 27 per cent expansion in available short-term rental supply.

AirDNA’s comparison indicates that the improvement was considerably stronger than the broader Canadian trend.

New listings outside World Cup host markets in Canada recorded an average rating increase of approximately 0.02 stars, compared with Vancouver’s improvement of approximately 0.09 stars.

Toronto also recorded positive results, although its improvement was more modest.

New properties in Toronto achieved an 86.1 per cent five-star review share, increasing by 0.9 percentage points. Its average new-listing rating reached approximately 4.79 stars.

Together, the findings demonstrate different levels of accommodation performance across Canada’s two host markets.

Vancouver experienced a pronounced improvement, while Toronto maintained relatively stable ratings during the tournament period

Mexico’s World Cup Host Cities Record Mixed Results

Mexico’s three host markets, Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara, experienced substantial changes in short-term rental supply.

Monterrey recorded the strongest five-star review share among the Mexican destinations for newly introduced properties, reaching 88.3 per cent.

That represented an increase of 2.4 percentage points from 2025.

The city’s available rental inventory expanded by approximately 49 per cent, making it one of the fastest-growing accommodation markets during the tournament.

Mexico City recorded a five-star review share of 86.7 per cent among new listings, also improving by 2.4 percentage points.

Its available accommodation supply increased by approximately 24 per cent.

Guadalajara presented a different picture.

Although the city’s available rental inventory expanded by approximately 33 per cent, its new-listing five-star review share declined slightly to 84.8 per cent.

The reduction amounted to 0.3 percentage points, making Guadalajara the only host market to experience a decline in this particular measure.

Its average new-listing rating also slipped from approximately 4.76 to 4.75 stars when rounded to two decimal places.

AirDNA cautioned that the small reduction was within normal year-to-year variation.

The research also identified some additional complaints concerning unpleasant odours and smaller rooms in Guadalajara, although the number of relevant reviews was limited.

These findings do not establish widespread accommodation problems. Instead, they indicate areas where individual operators may benefit from closer attention to property standards and guest expectations.

Dallas, Houston and Atlanta Demonstrate Accommodation Resilience

Several major American host markets combined additional rental capacity with improved guest ratings.

Dallas-Fort Worth achieved an 88.1 per cent five-star review share among new listings, increasing by 2.3 percentage points.

The metropolitan area also recorded a 24 per cent increase in available short-term rental supply.

Houston reached 87.9 per cent, improving by 2.9 percentage points, while its available rental inventory increased by approximately 13 per cent.

Atlanta recorded an 86.8 per cent five-star review share among new listings, representing an improvement of 1.7 percentage points.

Its available accommodation supply expanded by 21 per cent.

These results are relevant for tourism businesses because major sporting tournaments generate demand beyond traditional hotel accommodation.

Visitors travelling in families or groups may require several bedrooms, cooking facilities, additional living space or accommodation close to public transport.

Short-term rentals can provide these options, although their suitability depends on location, pricing, local regulations and property standards.

Airbnb’s pre-tournament research also found that families and groups represented more than half of World Cup trips booked on its platform at that stage.

Approximately three-quarters of family bookings were for properties with two or three bedrooms, demonstrating the importance of larger accommodation units for tournament travel.

New York, Boston, Miami and Philadelphia Show Different Guest Satisfaction Levels

The World Cup accommodation findings also revealed variations among established American tourism destinations.

Boston achieved an 87.8 per cent five-star review share among new properties, an improvement of 1.5 percentage points.

Miami reached 86.4 per cent, increasing by 2.2 percentage points.

New York/New Jersey recorded 85.9 per cent, also improving by 1.5 percentage points.

Philadelphia registered the lowest five-star review share among the 16 host markets, at 84.1 per cent.

Nevertheless, Philadelphia’s result still represented an improvement of 1.7 percentage points compared with 2025.

Its average new-listing rating reached approximately 4.71 stars, the lowest in the host-market comparison but still comfortably above four stars.

Los Angeles achieved an 86 per cent five-star review share among new properties, improving by 0.8 percentage points.

Its average new-listing rating remained broadly unchanged at approximately 4.74 stars.

These figures reinforce an important distinction: a destination ranking lower than other host markets does not necessarily indicate poor accommodation quality.

Every host market in AirDNA’s analysis recorded an average new-listing rating above 4.7 stars.

World Cup Mentions Surge in Airbnb Guest Reviews

Beyond numerical ratings, AirDNA examined the language used in guest reviews.

Approximately 12,300 reviews mentioned the World Cup during the 2026 study period, compared with around 150 during the corresponding period in 2025.

These references represented approximately 1.2 per cent of all reviews examined.

Kansas City recorded the highest proportion of tournament mentions, with approximately one in 20 reviews referring to the World Cup.

Guests also mentioned individual stadiums, including Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and major football venues in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

References to fan festivals increased in several host markets.

However, the presence of a tournament reference does not independently prove that the guest travelled specifically to attend a football match.

The research also found that reviews mentioning the World Cup generally received ratings close to those of other guests.

In 14 of the 16 markets, the difference was approximately 0.05 stars or less.

This suggests that guests discussing the tournament did not consistently report substantially different accommodation experiences from other visitors.

International Travellers Reveal Different Review Patterns

AirDNA also examined differences in guest ratings according to travellers’ countries of origin.

Among larger national groups, visitors from the United Kingdom and United States awarded some of the highest average ratings.

British guests recorded approximately 4.83 stars, while American guests averaged around 4.82 stars.

Australian visitors averaged approximately 4.80 stars, followed by Canadian travellers at 4.79 stars.

Mexican guests recorded approximately 4.76 stars.

The research also identified lower average scores among some European and Latin American visitor groups.

However, differences between nationalities should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that particular groups experienced worse accommodation.

Reviewing habits, expectations and approaches to five-star rating systems may vary between countries.

For accommodation operators serving international audiences, clear property descriptions, accurate photographs, responsive communication and straightforward check-in arrangements remain practical ways to reduce misunderstandings.

What the Findings Mean for Hotels and Tourism Businesses

The research offers several lessons for the wider hospitality industry.

First, major international events can encourage additional accommodation supply without necessarily reducing guest satisfaction.

Second, new accommodation providers can compete effectively on guest ratings when properties meet expectations.

Third, the relationship between supply growth and guest experience is more complex than a simple assumption that rapid expansion leads to declining standards.

However, higher review scores should not be confused with stronger financial performance.

The study does not establish whether individual hosts achieved higher profits, whether hotel occupancy increased or whether accommodation prices remained affordable.

It also does not measure the effect of short-term rentals on local housing availability.

For destination management organisations, the findings support a balanced approach to event accommodation planning.

Hotels, serviced apartments and regulated short-term rentals can serve different visitor requirements, while transport connectivity, accessibility and neighbourhood conditions remain essential parts of the travel experience.

How AirDNA Conducted the World Cup Accommodation Study

AirDNA examined individual Airbnb guest reviews for stays during June and July 2026.

The analysis included reviews posted between 1 June and 14 August, allowing for Airbnb’s post-checkout review window.

New properties were defined as listings first appearing in AirDNA’s database between January and June of the relevant year.

The company compared their performance with equivalent new listings from January to June 2025, using the same review period.

The geographical analysis covered metropolitan host markets, including stadium suburbs.

Hotels and properties classified as non-holiday-rental inventory were excluded.

Supply growth figures covered available listings on Airbnb and Vrbo, while the guest rating analysis focused on Airbnb reviews.

These methodological distinctions are important when interpreting the results.

The study provides evidence of changing review patterns, but it does not establish that the World Cup itself directly caused higher ratings.

Major Sporting Events Offer Lessons for Future Tourism Planning

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has provided an important case study in how accommodation markets respond to major international sporting events.

Across North America, newly introduced short-term rentals generally achieved strong guest ratings while many host destinations expanded their available accommodation inventory.

Kansas City’s combination of rapid supply growth and high guest ratings was particularly notable, while Vancouver demonstrated the largest improvement in new-listing five-star reviews.

For tourism authorities and accommodation businesses preparing for future sporting tournaments, the research highlights the importance of property readiness, accurate guest information and consistent service delivery.

The wider lesson is that additional accommodation capacity and positive visitor experiences can coexist, although continued monitoring of affordability, regulation and community impacts remains necessary.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Airbnb Hosts Earn Higher Five-Star Reviews Across 15 Host Markets, demonstrating encouraging accommodation performance across North America. AirDNA’s findings highlight Kansas City’s leadership, Vancouver’s improvement and growing rental capacity. The results offer valuable lessons for tourism authorities, hospitality businesses and destinations preparing for future international events.

Kansas City led FIFA World Cup 2026 host markets with 90.2 per cent five-star reviews, followed by Seattle at 89.9 per cent. Vancouver recorded the largest improvement, while Guadalajara experienced a slight decline. AirDNA’s findings demonstrate encouraging accommodation performance across North America, offering valuable insights for future sporting events.