Airbnb CEO Expects 2026 World Cup to Be Company’s ‘Number One Event Ever’

Airbnb is betting big on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the company’s co-founder and CEO predicting the tournament will drive more bookings than any other event in the platform’s 18-year history.

Brian Chesky revealed that approximately 100,000 new homes have been listed on Airbnb across the 16 host cities in North America since last fall. The company is expecting record demand for the event, which Chesky said would surpass the Paris Olympics, where 700,000 guests stayed.

“We’re expecting in our 18-year history this is the number one event ever for bookings at Airbnb,” Chesky said.

When asked which host cities are seeing the most interest, he noted that Los Angeles and Mexico City are “very, very popular,” though demand remains fairly distributed across locations.

Responding to a report that bookings in some host cities are below last year’s levels for the same period, Chesky attributed the pattern to travelers waiting longer to reserve. He drew a comparison to the Milan Olympics, where two-thirds of guests booked within 60 days of check-in.

“What we’re seeing is not soft demand but more people waiting to book a little more last minute,” he said. “We’re still expecting a huge amount of demand.”

Chesky added that the majority of listings are under $500 per night for entire homes, often with multiple bedrooms, making them potentially cheaper than hotels on peak nights.

Regarding geopolitical uncertainty and its impact on travel, Chesky said Airbnb has low exposure to the Middle East, estimating a roughly 100 basis point headwind to growth. “In times of uncertainty people wait a little bit more last minute,” he said, adding that the company is now entering the 60-day booking window and expects a surge.

On the subject of artificial intelligence, Chesky called AI “the best thing to ever happen to Airbnb.” He noted that AI now writes 60% of the company’s new code—about twice the industry benchmark—and that over 40% of customer issues are resolved without a human agent. AI has also helped cut the cost per booking by 10% year-over-year.

“If you’re an investor, you have to ask yourself, is AI going to help this company or hurt this company? We believe AI is the best thing to ever happen to Airbnb,” Chesky said.

He added that new AI features are scheduled to launch on May 20, including generative AI tools that summarize hundreds of millions of property reviews.

When asked about his plans for the World Cup, Chesky said he hopes the United States reaches the semifinals and the final, adding that he will attend those matches. “I’m half Italian, Italy is not in the World Cup, so I guess I won’t be rooting for them,” he said. “Let’s go for the U.S.”