Airbnb is giving free World Cup tickets to guests as business slows

Airbnb rentals typically give guests a place to sleep, bathe, cook a meal and watch TV — and if they’re lucky, even some luxury.

This month, some unit owners are going way beyond that, offering tickets to World Cup games played across North America, including at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The initiative comes as the tourism industry across the U.S., including in South Florida, is under growing pressure to show it is making the most of a once in a generation, epic event, which begins Thursday in Mexico City and starts in Miami-Dade on Monday.

Looking to stimulate demand on its platform, Airbnb said some listed stays during the global soccer tournament now include free game tickets.

The initiative runs through the tournament in all 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. About 1,300 tickets will be offered, the company said in a statement, from Group Stage games starting Thursday to the Final on July 19.

Of those freebies, “hundreds of tickets in Miami” will be put on the platform. Some travelers who’ve already made reservations may receive them, too, as a surprise.

The new giveaway comes as FIFA, the World Cup organizer, has faced heavy criticism worldwide for exorbitant ticket prices. It also is a response to a lower demand for accommodations.

While short-term rentals have fared better than large hotels, growth in demand in recent weeks has slowed, according to analysts. Meanwhile, demand for hotel rooms has slowed and prices have dropped

MORE: How much is that World Cup ticket in Miami? See the latest on prices

How to get free World Cup tickets

So, how do you get the goods? Here’s what you should do for free tickets to the World Cup, according to the company.

Search for stays on game dates on Airbnb’s app or website. Look for a soccer ball icon at the top of a listing page. That’s how you know rentals include free tickets. Enter all your information and make a payment to confirm the reservation. The host will then tell you how to obtain the tickets. You’ll get one for each guest in your party, Airbnb says.

There’s no minimum listing rate, but stays need to average $385 a night to qualify.

Rentals that come with tickets will be released in phases: Group Stage and Round of 32 started June 10, Round of 16 beginning starts June 18, quarterfinals from July 1, semifinals commencing July 9 and the final on July 16.

The short-term rental market has stagnated a bit, according to new information from data analytics firm AirDNA, which tracks short-term rental Airbnb and Vrbo bookings.

Among games at Hard Rock Stadium, the biggest draw for short-term rentals remains Colombia vs. Portugal on June 27. Total demand is 17,590 booked nights, 7105 in Fort Lauderdale and 10,485 in Miami. That’s a 55% increase for Fort Lauderdale compared to the same dates in 2025. It’s a 76% boost for Miami.

Yet those rates of growth are lower than the 70% and 106% figures provided on May 25, suggesting a slowdown.

The average booked rate that night was $336 in Fort Lauderdale and $341 in Miami, slightly less than the $340 and $342 on May 25.

The Brazil-Scotland game on June 24 has produced 15,626 booked nights, 5,665 in Fort Lauderdale and 9,961 in Miami. That represents a 48% increase for the Broward city versus last year and a 98% jump for Miami.

Those rates of growth are also lower than the 66% and 130% bumps noted on May 25.

The average booked rate for that night is $272 for Fort Lauderdale and $281 for Miami, stable compared to the $275 and $280 on May 25.

Beyond the slowing rates of growth, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area has produced little increase in new short-term rental supply due to the World Cup. There’s only been about a 2% increase in inventory, said Bram Gallagher, director of economics at AirDNA, looking at data in late May.

Still, the recent slowdown shouldn’t obscure that short-term rentals are doing better with the World Cup than without it.

As of June 8, demand, or number of bookings, in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area is up 28% on game days compared to one year ago. That puts the region in sixth place. Guadalajara leads all hosts and Monterrey is in second. Both have posted over 100% growth in demand compared to 2025. Kansas City is in third, then Mexico City and Dallas-Fort Worth.

But for the entirety of the World Cup, the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area show 8.6% growth.

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 12:56 PM.