$6,000 a night near MetLife Stadium? How World Cup demand is warping housing costs
With the 2026 World Cup set to bring millions of visitors to North America, the scramble for places to sleep is already driving eye-popping prices around New York City, especially across the river in New Jersey, where some short-term rentals are being advertised for about US$6,000 a night even when they are far from the stadium.
The surge is most visible around MetLife Stadium, which will host a major slate of matches during the tournament, running from June 11 to July 19. Hosts and property managers say demand expectations are so strong that homeowners are willing to temporarily move out to cash in on the event.
Bobby Roufaeal, who manages more than a dozen short-term rentals in New Jersey, said a high-end property could generate as much as US$240,000 over the tournament period. He said he has been raising rates for his units and has been approached by homeowners looking for help listing their properties for the World Cup rush. Some have told him they plan to stay with relatives for weeks to free up their homes for paying guests.
A six-bedroom property in Princeton, New Jersey, is being offered at roughly US$6,000 per night during the tournament, despite being more than an hour’s drive from MetLife. The pricing suggests the housing effect will extend well beyond stadium-adjacent neighbourhoods, as visitors spill into suburbs and smaller cities.
The New York Times has reported that hotel rates in host cities could jump sharply around opening matches, compounding costs for fans already paying for expensive flights and tickets. Airbnb has also offered incentives, including cash for first-time hosts, to encourage more listings as demand rises.
For supporters trying to follow their teams, the accommodation hunt is becoming part of the World Cup strategy. Mehdi Salem, who runs a French fan association organising trips for dozens of members, said he has had to get creative, booking early, packing more people into fewer rooms, and looking outside Manhattan to boroughs like the Bronx and Queens and to less tourist-heavy parts of New Jersey, to keep costs under control. “Some prices are totally ridiculous,” he said.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 across three host nations; the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
