World Cup Turmoil: US Hotel Bookings Plummet as Fans Choose to Stay Home

THE World Cup has been branded a flop by US hotel bosses — with fans deciding to stay home rather than pay rip-off prices.

Demand for rooms has slumped in nine of the 11 US cities hosting matches.

In Kansas — where will be based — 90 per cent of say bookings are down on a typical summer.

And in Boston, where and team-mates play on June 23, hoteliers report room bookings are 80 per cent down.

As a result 70 per cent of rooms block-booked by have been released.

US President and his Fifa president pal predicted the World Cup, also played in and , would be worth £22billion to the US economy, with 200,000 .

But with the tournament starting a month today, the American Hotel & Lodging Association said the expected flood of foreign fans has failed to materialise.

A report blames visa delays, crackdowns, high match and travel costs, the strong US dollar and 20 per cent tipping demands of staff.

They also cited “geopolitical issues” include the

And fans from some African nations have found it impossible to pay £11,000 visa bonds deman­ded by .

The rep­ort said: “Indicators ­suggest the anticipated economic lift may fall short of expectations.

“Forecasts show that domestic travellers are outpacing international travellers — an imbalance that threatens the broader economic impact that was expected.”

Thomas Tuchel’s England side start their tournament against in Dallas on June 17.

Around 70 per cent of hotels in the area report booking pace below expectations.

In New Jersey, where they play on June 27, 67 per cent of hotels reported slower-than-expected bookings.

Hospitality analyst Jan Freitag blamed Fifa’s ticket pricing — and cast doubt on Infantino’s promise the World Cup would bring a boom equal to “104 Super Bowls”.

He said: “When we talk to hotels in most markets, demand isn’t materialising.”

Eze Chidiebere Paul

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