Giant soccer ball with a FIFA World Cup logo is visible next to San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, seen on June 4, 2026.
(George Avalos/Bay Area News Group)
Giant soccer ball with a FIFA World Cup logo is visible next to San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, seen on June 4, 2026.
SAN JOSE — World Cup visitors are already pushing up short-term rental demand and nightly rates across parts of the Bay Area, but early data suggests the surge may be uneven and softer than some local boosters expected.
Demand for short-term rentals is up 10% in the Bay Area compared with a year ago for group play matches and up 17.9% from last year for the round of 32, according to AirDNA, an analytics firm that tracks short-term rentals.
After recent major events, including the Super Bowl, brought various positive economic impacts to the region, there was hope matches for soccer’s signature event could follow suit.
“We are seeing some increase in demand, but it could be a little less than anticipated,” Ken DeLeon, founder and managing broker of Palo Alto-based DeLeon Realty, said. “It’s not as much as the frenzy of the Super Bowl. Demand is up, but not to the same extent as the Super Bowl.”
Nationwide, the 15 host cities are seeing an average 15% increase in demand, said Bram Gallagher, director of economics and forecasting with AirDNA, said. The nationwide demand is far ahead of the group play demand in the Bay Area and just behind the demand in the region for the round of 32.
“The World Cup happens to be the largest of these sports championships across the entire globe,” said Leah Toeniskoetter, president of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce. “There’s an extra spotlight on us.”
According to information provided by AirDNA, short-term rentals are being advertised at more than $1,000 a night in at least three Bay Area markets during the World Cup.
Across Bay Area markets tracked by AirDNA, average nightly rates were above $300 during both group-stage and round-of-32 dates, according to this news organization’s analysis of the firm’s data.
“The World Cup will provide a nifty economic boost for the Bay Area,” said Russell Hancock, president of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, a San Jose-based think tank. “That’s great news and we’ll take it. It could be that the greater benefit isn’t the visitor spending. It’s the opportunity to showcase the Bay Area to a global audience.”
The matches are the Bay Area’s latest chance this year to turn a major sporting event into a broader economic boost.
“This is an incredibly important event,” said Brian Kurtz, chief executive officer with the San Jose Downtown Association. “We are once again putting our face out to the whole world to see.”
Not all Bay Area markets are falling below the nationwide average for short-term rentals.
In downtown San Jose, demand has increased by 29% for the group stage and 17% for the round of 32, AirDNA reported. The South Bay overall is experiencing a slight rise of 0.6% for group play dates and 1.2% for the round of 32.
Demand in Oakland is up 19.1% for group play and up 48% for the round of 32 matches. Downtown Oakland is seeing an increase of 5% for group play and 11% for the round of 32.
Demand in San Francisco is up 9% for group-stage matches and 13.6% for the round of 32.
Across Bay Area markets tracked by AirDNA, average nightly rates appear to dip slightly for the round of 32 compared with group-stage dates.
Bay Area average prices for dates that correspond to round of 32 matches are $312 a night, which is down 3.4% from the average price of $323 for group play dates, according to information provided by AirDNA.
For both group play and the round of 32 matches, the 10 most expensive locations in the Bay Area are in San Francisco, Marin County and Santa Clara County, AirDNA data shows.
Some of those high prices for group play in the region include Pacific Heights in San Francisco at $1,309, Cole Valley in San Francisco at $1,270, Belvedere-Tiburon in Marin County at $968, Cupertino at $779 and Los Gatos at $716.
Rates were similar for the round of 32, with some markets climbing higher, including Belvedere-Tiburon at $1,049 and Los Gatos at $783.
Because of elevated prices, some may be bargain shopping in relatively inexpensive neighborhoods, but even those markets are seeing significant changes.
According to AirDNA, when comparing prices for the round of 32 versus the group play stage, Sunol is up 110.9% to $466 a night compared with $221. Oakland’s Oak Tree neighborhood is up 85.7% at $182 compared with $98. Saratoga prices are up 55% at $662 a night compared with $427.
Alviso in North San Jose, which is about 2.5 miles from Levi’s Stadium, is up 27.5%.
Beyond overnight visitors, downtown leaders hope the tournament will drive foot traffic even among fans who are not attending matches.
To capitalize on World Cup matches, viewing parties featuring two huge TV screens are scheduled to take place in downtown San Jose.
“All 100-plus games will be shown in San Pedro Square,” Toeniskoetter said. “That will be activity day and night for three weeks. There will be a continuous drawing of people out of their house and into a restaurant.”
The activity could be crucial for merchants.
“With the Super Bowl, we had reports of some restaurants that had sales that were 300% higher than what they experienced in the past,” Kurtz said. “That supported the bottom line of many of our small businesses downtown.”
Yet even after the events have ended, the economic boost from the World Cup, Super Bowl and March Madness might wind up being only transitory. The region’s long-term challenges, such as housing affordability and traffic, will linger, Hancock warned.
“These are structural issues and can’t be solved by tourist dollars,” Hancock said. “Major events can be multipliers, but they aren’t substitutes for long-term economic fundamentals.”
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