KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Seattle STR operators could see a major revenue boost during the 2026 FIFA World Cup
  • Airbnb says searches for stays in World Cup host cities are already up 80%
  • Seattle hosts still need city licenses and permits to legally operate during the tournament

The FIFA World Cup is quickly becoming a new stream of added revenue for short-term rental operators in host cities.

While the spotlight has mainly been focused on New York, Dallas, Miami, and Los Angeles, there are plenty of other cities that operators can cash in on the upcoming games.

Seattle is one of them.

According to a new calculator launched by Airbnb ahead of FIFA 2026, Seattle STR operators can earn a sizable amount of income during the sporting event.

Some Seattle short-term rental properties could make up to $11,000 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though exact earnings will vary across the city.

Seattle is scheduled to host six World Cup matches at Lumen Field between June 15 and July 6, and demand is already rising, with searches for stays in host cities up 80 percent during the tournament.

An estimated 750,000 visitors are expected for the tournament in Western Washington, creating what could be one of the strongest revenue windows Seattle operators have seen.

According to FOX 13 Seattle, Airbnb is offering $750 to new hosts who welcome their first guests by July 31.

If you’re an existing STR operator and haven’t already adjusted your booking rate for these days, now’s a good time to do so before it’s too late.

Airbnb’s Host Earnings Calculator gives individualized estimates based on location, availability and listing type, letting users adjust how many days they plan to host and see which matches fall within their timeframe.

Operators can check out the World Cup Host Earning Calculator on Airbnb’s website.

Related: FIFA World Cup demand is driving a new short-term rental regulatory battle in New Jersey

Licensing requirements remain unchanged for World Cup hosts

The opportunity, however, does come with a few strings.

Seattle residents must have a business license certificate and a short-term regulatory license from the city to legally host, or they risk fines, with the annual permit costing about $75 per unit.

The city isn’t relaxing those rules for major events.

With hotels expected to hit capacity during match days and just over 4,300 licensed short-term rentals in the city, Seattle’s regulatory framework could become a bottleneck.

Operators who skip the licensing process face fines exceeding $1,000 — enough to wipe out weeks of tournament income.