Airbnb Signs Multi-Tournament Global Deal with FIFA.

Roger Hampel

Airbnb has entered into a landmark multi-year, multi-tournament partnership with FIFA, becoming the Official Alternative Accommodation and Experiences Booking Platform for three of world football’s flagship tournaments: the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, FIFA World Cup 26™, and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™.

Announced just one year out from the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 26™ across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the deal positions Airbnb at the heart of fan travel, immersive experience creation, and local economic regeneration across 16 host cities.

The Strategic Scope: Three Tournaments, One Global Platform

This partnership represents a step change in how FIFA commercializes the travel layer of its global events. Airbnb is not only providing fan accommodation — it is offering match-adjacent experiences, localized cultural integration, and private access moments led by legends of the sport.

“The World Cup brings the world together – and so do we,” said Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.“Airbnb is proud to collaborate with FIFA to offer fans once-in-a-lifetime experiences while generating meaningful economic impact for local communities.”

Airbnb’s designation varies by tournament — Official Partner for the Club World Cup, and Official Supporter for both the Men’s and Women’s World Cups — but the model is consistent: using the platform to bridge tourism, experience, and localized economic activity.

Commercial Highlights: Reach, Revenue, and Jobs Airbnb FIFA

According to a study commissioned by Airbnb from Deloitte:

• Over 380,000 Airbnb guests are expected to use the platform during the FIFA World Cup 26

• Their collective spending is forecast to deliver $3.6 billion in economic impact

• Across all host cities, Airbnb hosts may earn $210 million

• That activity will generate the equivalent of 34,000 full-time jobs

  
  

These numbers are a reminder that football’s economic engine extends far beyond the stadium, and that platform-based models like Airbnb have become key partners for host cities looking to scale benefits more evenly across neighborhoods.

“This is not just a partnership — it’s a new infrastructure layer for global tournaments,” noted one commercial strategist involved with multiple bidding nations for FIFA events.

The Experience Layer: Tim Howard, Cobi Jones, and Airbnb Originals

The agreement also sees Airbnb activate "Airbnb Experiences", including exclusive training sessions, cultural deep-dives, and behind-the-scenes football content led by legends like Tim Howard and Cobi Jones.

These premium experiences are designed to convert short-term travelers into long-term community investors — expanding the hospitality spend from basic lodging into curated moments tied to cities, cultures, and football heritage.

“Soccer has the power to bring people together in unforgettable ways,” said Howard.“Partnering with Airbnb and FIFA to offer a private training session is a chance to share my love for the game and connect with fans hands-on.”

Relevance for FIFA and Host Cities

From FIFA’s perspective, the partnership aligns with its efforts to diversify its commercial portfolio beyond traditional sponsors and deepen value for host communities.

“Having a travel leader such as Airbnb by our side is special,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, noting the partnership’s relevance not only for 2026 but for future editions of both men’s and women’s tournaments.

For host cities like Houston, Miami, or Seattle, the move enables decentralized tourism, helps solve accommodation bottlenecks, and puts tournament spending into neighborhoods that rarely benefit from mega-events.

“This is critical tourism infrastructure, delivered by software,” one host city consultant remarked.