World Cup STR Demand in D-FW Spikes as Dallas Heads to Mediation
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With the teams announced for the Group Stage of FIFA World Cup 2026, fans are booking their accommodations for next summer, and, as expected, it’s looking like the tournament will be a boon for short-term rental operators in the D-FW.
AT&T Stadium in Arlington will be hosting a tournament-leading nine matches overall, spanning five Group Stage games, two Round of 32 bouts, one Round of 16 matchup, and a semifinal. The group stage schedule was set at the Final Draw earlier this month:
- June 14 – Netherlands vs. Japan
- June 17 – England vs. Croatia
- June 22 – Argentina vs. Austria
- June 25 – Japan vs. Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania
- June 27 – Jordan vs. Argentina
- June 30 – Round of 32
- July 3 – Round of 32
- July 6 – Round of 16
- July 14 – Semifinal
Data published by the STR analytics tool AirDNA shows just how much demand the World Cup is generating for such lodging. In the Dallas market (which includes surrounding cities in Denton and Collin Counties), bookings during the Group Stage have shot up 415% year-over-year as of December 14. For its part, the Fort Worth market clocked a 545% year-over-year increase.
“Fans tend to book quickly once they know where their team will play,” AirDNA public relations associate Sabrine Louhichi said. “Based on past tournaments, demand can double or even triple in the first weekend after the draw.”
Across all game days, bookings are up 350-450% in the Dallas market, and 500-625% in the Fort Worth market. Top sub-markets in the D-FW include Flower Mound, West Dallas, Oak Cliff, Mount Auburn, South Fort Worth, Grapevine, Euless, and Arlington.
No doubt STRs are getting more attention because of the World Cup, and it looks like more area property owners are getting in on the action given all the extra demand. Recently, Dallas Short-Term Rental Alliance (DSTRA) put on a couple of in-person training sessions for those interested in renting their homes for the first time during the tournament. Dozens turned out across two days.
Vera Elkins, president of DSTRA, told CandysDirt.com the classes went well, and her organization was able to educate prospective STR operators on best practices. Attendees left knowing how to list their property on platforms like Airbnb while being a good neighbor.
“People are eager, and they want to be a part of something that’s bigger than short-term rentals, bigger than Dallas. I mean, this is the World Cup. This is huge,” she said.
World Cup or not, plenty of North Texas residents have been critical of STRs being allowed to operate in single-family neighborhoods, claiming they can be disruptive to the peace and security of such communities. Since there’s little to no statewide regulation, local jurisdictions have tried to set their own rules with mixed results.
Dallas has been mired in litigation since it tried to enforce a virtual ban on STRs a couple years ago. Things haven’t quite been going the city’s way, with an injunction against the measure managing to hold pending trial. Elkins said the parties to the lawsuit were recently ordered by a district court judge to engage in mediation early next year.
Millions of visitors are expected to come to the Metroplex across the D-FW’s stretch of the tournament, with an estimated economic impact in the billions of dollars. STR operators certainly won’t be the only entrepreneurs to get a piece of the pie, though.
“The North Texas FIFA World Cup’s Business Connect Program is connecting Dallas-area companies with opportunities to supply goods and services ranging from catering and event rentals to transportation and security,” Mayor Eric Johnson said in a recent newsletter.
