‘This is not a World Cup for the people’: residents in host cities sound alarm over housing affordability
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, advocates in US host cities fear that a surge in short‑term rentals will inflate rents and displace the homeless. Tenants’ groups and housing justice coalitions are lobbying FIFA and city officials to adopt human‑rights plans and protect vulnerable residents.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to bring more than 10 million visitors to the United States, with matches scheduled across 16 cities from Seattle to Atlanta. While stadiums and hotels prepare for the influx, residents and affordable‑housing advocates warn that the event could worsen the country’s housing crisis. They argue that the rapid rise in short‑term rental listings will tighten the rental market, drive up prices, and force the unhoused into detention facilities.
Short‑Term Rentals Surge Ahead of the Games
Across America’s host cities, hotel occupancy remains low, prompting platforms such as Airbnb to offer a $750 sign‑up bonus to homeowners and landlords. In some markets, nightly rates for new listings have climbed as high as $6,000, a sharp increase from the $4,000–$5,000 range seen in recent months. In Seattle and Atlanta, short‑term rental inventory has grown by up to 30% in the last few weeks, according to data collected by local housing‑justice groups.
Advocates fear that this surge will push landlords to favor short‑term rentals over long‑term leases. “May to August is when many New Yorkers are negotiating their leases,” said Whitney Hu, director of civic engagement and research for Churches United for Fair Housing. “If New York’s short‑term rental restriction was lifted, that’s an incentive for landlords to push tenants out and rent their places out for the World Cup.”
Coalitions Push for Human‑Rights Plans
Tenants Not Tourists, the national coalition Dignity 2026, and other groups are working on two fronts: protecting renters from housing instability and preventing the arrest of unhoused residents. They are pressuring FIFA and city officials to develop human‑rights plans that safeguard tenants and the homeless during the event.
After FIFA announced its 2026 schedule, Dignity 2026 called on the governing body to identify human‑rights risks. When asked about its rollout of human‑rights plans, a FIFA spokesperson said host cities would release drafts on a “rolling basis.” FIFA is supporting the process through ongoing engagement, technical guidance, and independent expert input. So far, only four of the 16 North American host cities have made their plans public.
Case Studies: New York, New Jersey, and Atlanta
In New York City, Airbnb pushed to lift short‑term rental restrictions for the World Cup, but Tenants Not Tourists countered with data showing a 9% rise in rental rates linked to Airbnb’s presence. A city‑hall meeting drew hundreds of residents, union representatives, and policy experts, and the city council ultimately voted to keep the restrictions in place. Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized that the city’s homes must remain homes, not hotels.
New Jersey’s approach is more fragmented. Some towns have enacted their own bans ahead of the World Cup, while others allow listings that can command up to $1,000 a night. Airbnb maintains that the affordable‑housing crisis stems from a lack of new construction, not short‑term rentals, citing that 35% of surveyed residents believe the extra income from hosting helps cover basic living expenses.
Atlanta, which hosted the 1996 Olympics, faces a painful history of detaining unhoused residents in the city’s detention center during large events. Play Fair ATL, a coalition formed in September 2025, has highlighted the gap between available housing units and the number of unhoused people. “We’re asking city leaders – what happens to the people in the gap?” asked Timothy Franzen, director of the American Friends Service Committee’s economic justice program.
Unhoused Residents at Risk of Arrest and Detention
In Kansas City, organizers are building a $22 million temporary jail with 100 beds before the World Cup. Nehemiah Rosell of the Greater Kansas City Coalition to End Homelessness warned that the lack of a coordinated plan could lead to the detention of people who are “inconvenient” for event organizers. Sweeps of encampments are already increasing, and the city’s response strategy includes law enforcement as one component of a broader collaboration.
To document potential harms, HouseKC has launched a form titled “Undocumenting Harms to Our Unhoused Neighbors.” Community members can record encampment sweeps, arrests, and fines in real time. Flyers with QR codes are distributed to housing service providers to gather data that could inform advocacy efforts.
What Happens Next?
Coalition members are continuing to lobby city councils for taxes on short‑term rentals and for the inclusion of tenant‑rights protections in the World Cup human‑rights plans. While these measures may not be implemented before the event, organizers hope to place them on the ballot in the future. The situation remains fluid, with activists monitoring lease renewals, rental rates, and the treatment of unhoused residents in real time.
As the World Cup draws near, the debate over short‑term rentals and housing affordability is intensifying. Residents and advocacy groups are demanding that the event be inclusive and that the rights of the city’s most vulnerable populations be protected.
Why it matters
The World Cup’s arrival threatens to exacerbate housing instability and criminalize the homeless in host cities. Protecting tenants and ensuring humane treatment of unhoused residents is essential for social justice and the integrity of the event.
Key points
- Short‑term rentals are rising by up to 30% in host cities.
- FIFA’s human‑rights plans are still incomplete in most cities.
- New York City kept short‑term rental restrictions after a public pushback.
- Atlanta’s past Olympic detentions raise concerns about repeat abuse.
- Coalitions are documenting sweeps and arrests to build future advocacy.
- Taxation of short‑term rentals is being considered as a mitigation strategy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main concern of housing advocates for the 2026 World Cup?
They fear that increased short‑term rentals will raise rents and displace both tenants and unhoused residents, leading to more homelessness and criminalization.
How many host cities have released FIFA human‑rights plans?
Only four of the 16 North American host cities have made their plans public so far.
What measures are being considered to protect tenants?
Coalitions are pushing for taxes on short‑term rentals and for tenant‑rights provisions in the human‑rights plans.
