Planning travel for the 2026 soccer tournament? Here’s where prices are rising and where to find value
The World Cup is already shaping how Americans are thinking about travel, and the biggest shifts are showing up city by city.
New KAYAK data shows more people are searching for flights to U.S. host cities, with some destinations seeing much bigger jumps than others. The tournament spans North America, but a lot of early planning is focused on U.S. destinations.
For travelers, this points to a few early takeaways. Some cities are seeing steady increases in interest and prices, while others may still offer more flexibility depending on budget and travel plans.
Top trending US host cities by flight search interest
Based on KAYAK flight search data, these cities are seeing the largest increases compared to a year earlier:
- Kansas City, Missouri (+136%)
- Dallas, Texas (+56%)
- Houston, Texas (+52%)
- Boston, Massachusetts (+34%)
- Atlanta, Georgia (+26%)
- Newark, New Jersey (+21%)
- San Francisco, California (+19%)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (+17%)
- Los Angeles, California (+16%)
- Miami, Florida (+15%)
Kansas City is well ahead of the rest, highlighting the positive impact major events can have on destinations. In fact, 96% of Gen Z and Millennial travelers plan to travel for a major sporting event in 2026, indicating a positive impact on city tourism and small-venue cities.
Why Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston are drawing attention
Kansas City is the obvious standout, but it's not the whole story.
Dallas and Houston are also seeing strong increases, pointing to steady interest in larger host cities. Dallas, in particular, could be getting a bump from the number of matches it's set to host, including a semifinal.
It's likely a mix of factors:
- More matches: Dallas is hosting more games than any other U.S. city.
- International exposure: Kansas City will host eight international teams during the group stage, bringing added visibility.
- Not just the usual cities: Early searches are spread across more places than the biggest, most obvious destinations.
Put simply, travelers are not all heading to the same places. They are spreading out and thinking about what kind of trip they want.
Hotel prices are shifting in US host cities
Flights are only one part of the trip. Hotels are another major factor when it comes to overall cost.
KAYAK data shows average nightly rates at $460 in Boston (+40%), $436 in New York (+40%), and $430 in Seattle (+34%) compared with the same dates in 2025.
Some of the largest increases are happening in places that are not usually at the top of the price list.
U.S. cities with the biggest hotel price increases:
- Kansas City, Missouri: $400 average nightly rate (+115% vs. 2025)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: $363 average nightly rate (+70% vs. 2025)
- Houston, Texas: $273 average nightly rate (+61% vs. 2025)
The pattern is fairly clear. Larger cities remain the most expensive, while smaller or midsize destinations are seeing some of the biggest increases.
But in many cases, they are still more affordable overall. Houston, for example, is averaging about $273 per night.
At the same time, hotel pricing around major events can be unpredictable. Recent reports suggest some cities may adjust rates as travel patterns become clearer.
What this means for US travelers
For anyone thinking about traveling to World Cup matches, timing is starting to matter.
As interest builds, flights to and hotel rooms in cities like Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston may become more limited, particularly around key match dates. Larger cities like New York and Los Angeles will continue to draw steady crowds, but they are also more accustomed to handling high demand.
Even if you are not planning to attend the tournament, you may still feel the effects. Pricing and availability in host cities can shift as travel patterns evolve, and those changes may extend to nearby destinations.
Travelers looking for a summer getaway in the U.S., outside of host cities, may want to consider destinations that currently offer better value, such as:
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida: $269 average airfare
- Orlando, Florida: $283 average airfare
- Tampa, Florida: $289 average airfare
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: $294 average airfare
- Raleigh, North Carolina: $299 average airfare
The takeaway is simple: With prices and availability still in flux, tracking fares and hotel rates over time can help travelers spot the right moment to book.
Methodology
World Cup Flight data: Based on flight searches made on KAYAK and associated brands in the period starting 2025-12-05 and ending on the most recent Sunday prior to each weekly update (refreshed every Tuesday), for flights with departure between June 10 and July 20, 2026, from any airport to tournament host cities. These were compared to searches made in the corresponding period in the previous year and ending on the corresponding Sunday, for travel between June 10 and July 20, 2025. All prices are average prices for economy, round-trip tickets. Prices may vary, and savings cannot be guaranteed. Percentages for changes in searches are approximate.
World Cup hotel data: Based on hotel searches made on KAYAK and associated brands in the period starting Dec. 5, 2025, and ending on the most recent Sunday prior to each weekly update (refreshed every Tuesday), for travel between June 10 and July 20, 2026 in tournament host cities. These were compared to searches made in the corresponding period in the previous year and ending on the corresponding Sunday, for travel between June 10 and July 20, 2025. All prices are average for one night in a double room. Prices may vary, and savings cannot be guaranteed.
Summer affordable destinations: Based on flight searches made on KAYAK in the period between March 1 and April 10, 2026, for flights with departure between May 21 and Sept. 8, 2026, from any U.S. airport. They were compared to searches made in the period between March 1 and April 10, 2025, with the travel period between May 22 and Sept. 9, 2025. All prices are average prices for round-trip, economy tickets. Prices may vary, and savings cannot be guaranteed.
This story was produced by KAYAK and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Copyright 2026 Stacker Media, LLC
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM.