On Wednesday, October 1st, Airbnb and the FIFA World Cup 2026™ New York New Jersey Host Committee announced a landmark partnership at Chelsea Piers Field House in Brooklyn, setting the stage for one of the most transformative sports and community events in the region’s history.
The FIFA World Cup 2026™, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, will mark the first time in 30 years that New York/New Jersey serves as a host and the first-ever edition to feature 48 teams. Local leaders, community groups, and soccer icons—including two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Carli Lloyd—joined officials to highlight the wide-ranging benefits of the partnership.
- Advertisement -
According to Deloitte, Airbnb stays during the tournament are projected to generate $3.6 billion across Host Cities, with $288 million in GDP and over 1,100 jobs in the tri-state area alone. Hosts in the region could earn nearly $6,000 in supplemental income while spreading economic benefits to neighborhood shops, restaurants, and small businesses.
Beyond economics, the initiative prioritizes community legacy. Plans include building five new mini pitches across New York and New Jersey, investing over $1 million into local programming, hosting a fan festival in the Bronx, and organizing a Community Day at the National Tennis Center in Queens.
“The last World Cup was viewed by more people than the last 13 Super Bowls combined,” said Alex Lasry, CEO of the FIFA World Cup 2026 NYNJ Host Committee. “This partnership speaks to the legacy we want to leave and sets the mark of what we want to be doing in the future.”
City Council Member Francisco Moya, an avid sports fan himself, emphasized the long-term impact: “These pitches will become classrooms of leadership and teamwork. These festivals will bring neighbors together across borough lines and strengthen the fabric of our city for years to come.”
Christine Quinn, President & CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and permanent housing in New York, celebrated the partnership’s early impact, noting that Airbnb has already donated 3,000 backpacks for children in shelters. “To have this partnership provide spaces for kids to be active and dream big means so much—especially when 92% of homeless households are headed by mothers. Having women in soccer involved in this effort says, ‘I care.’”
The announcement concluded with a mini camp led by Carli Lloyd, giving local youth an unforgettable chance to learn from one of soccer’s greatest champions. Sneak a peek on our Instagram account.
With the countdown to 2026 underway, Airbnb and FIFA’s partnership promises not only a global spectacle but a powerful local legacy for communities across New York and New Jersey.
