World Cup Host Cities Raise Hotel Taxes Ahead of Tournament
Photo Credit: Exterior of Vancouver's BC Place stadium, which will host World Cup fixtures in 2026. Adobe Stock / Philip
Skift Take
Hosting the World Cup isn’t cheap. Some cities are exploring hotel tax increases to help cover the costs.
The 2026 World Cup is expected to be a major boon to the travel industry with an estimated 6.5 million attendees, according to a March report from FIFA and the World Trade Organization Secretariat.
While the report says host cities can anticipate record occupancy rates and an economic boost, it will come at a cost. Politico reports that infrastructure improvements and other costs tied to hosting matches can cost between $100 million and $200 million per city. Some cities are looking to raise taxes on travelers to offset th
