Following your team across continents has never been cheap or simple, but FIFA’s latest partnership with Airbnb comes with a promise to ease the logistical burden for travelling supporters.
The American homestay giant becomes the Official Alternative Accommodation and Experiences Booking Platform across three major tournaments: the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup as a Partner, plus the 2026 World Cup and 2027 Women’s World Cup as a Supporter.
“The World Cup brings the world together – and so do we,” said Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. “Airbnb is proud to collaborate with FIFA to offer fans once-in-a-lifetime experiences while generating meaningful economic impact for local communities.”
Beyond basic accommodation, the partnership introduces curated ‘Airbnb Experiences’ – including private training sessions with legendary American goalkeeper Tim Howard, available for booking immediately.
“Football has the power to bring people together in unforgettable ways,” said Howard. “Partnering with Airbnb and FIFA to offer the experience of a private training session has been incredibly special. It’s a chance to share my love for the game and connect with fans in a hands-on, meaningful way. They won’t just be watching from the stands, they’ll step on to the pitch, get a behind-the-scenes look at pro training, and experience the sport from a whole new perspective.”
The numbers tell their own story. Airbnb and consultancy firm Deloitte project over 380,000 guests will use the platform during the 2026 World Cup alone, generating an estimated $3.6 billion economic impact for host cities.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the arrangement with typical enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to welcome Airbnb to FIFA, and we’re thrilled that it is taking on such a key role in the three groundbreaking tournaments coming up. The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be a defining competition for generations to come and will reshape club football. Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup 26 will be the biggest tournament in history, with 48 teams competing across three host nations. Then, one year later, the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in South America for the first time. Having a travel leader such as Airbnb by our side is special. Together, we’ll continue to see football unite the world.”
Airbnb sweetens the deal with a $5 million Host City Impact Program designed to benefit local communities – a move that acknowledges the complex relationship between mega-events and their host cities.
Insideworldfootball.com
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