The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a significant boost to short-term rental (STR) income across U.S. host markets, according to new customer data from Baselane. Among the same Baselane STR hosts active in both June 2025 and June 2026, rental income across 11 U.S. host markets increased 60 percent year over year.
By comparison, income among the same group of hosts in non-host markets grew 11 percent. Baselane customers in host markets saw a 79 percent increase in short-term rental payouts from May to June 2026. This figure exceeds month-over-month growth in non-host markets and the seasonal increase recorded during the same period last year.
Top Host Cities See Explosive Growth
Baselane’s analysis of short-term rental income by market found considerable differences between May and June 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Miami led the pack with a 709 percent increase, followed by Kansas City at 607 percent and Dallas-Fort Worth at 587 percent. Other notable gains included Atlanta (219 percent), Houston (214 percent), and the San Francisco Bay Area (156 percent).
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The increase was driven by stronger short-term rental demand during the tournament window, with both revenue and booking activity climbing above typical levels. Several Baselane customers experienced especially pronounced increases during the event. In Atlanta, the owner of a single rental property generated approximately $16,000 in four weeks, compared with a typical monthly income of roughly $1,200. An owner with three local properties in Kansas City generated approximately $13,900 during the tournament period, about seven times the property owner’s normal monthly pace.
A professional operator with 23 units in Seattle generated approximately $216,000 in four weeks, compared with approximately $81,000 in a typical month. The pattern suggests that local regulation may influence how much of the World Cup-related demand property owners can capture. Short-term rental income in host markets where short-term renting is broadly permitted increased 421 percent compared with June 2025. Markets with moderate restrictions increased 75 percent, while highly regulated markets, including New York, Los Angeles, and Boston, increased only 18 percent.
“Major events like the World Cup can create a significant revenue opportunity for short-term rental owners, but local market conditions determine how much of that demand they can actually capture,” said Mathias Korder, CEO at Baselane. “That makes financial visibility critical. Owners need to understand not just that revenue increased, but where the gains came from, how costs changed, and whether the lift reflects a one-time event or a longer-term investment opportunity.”
