Airbnb is providing a $1,015 cash reward to first-time hosts in Toronto and other World Cup cities to encourage short-term rentals during the 2026 tournament. The incentive aims to meet rising demand from expected visitors, including over 300,000 to Toronto. Hosts must rent their entire home and welcome their first guest by July 31.
Toronto homeowners have a new opportunity to earn extra income as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. Airbnb announced a cash reward of $1,015 for first-time users of the platform who host their first guest by July 31. This offer applies to the 16 North American host cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, New York, and Boston.
"We all know the cost of living is increasing, so this could be a big moment in terms of Canadians and Torontonians being able to earn some extra income," said Matt McNama, spokesperson for Airbnb. The requirements are straightforward: participants must be new hosts and rent out their entire home. McNama noted a surge in searches for accommodations in host cities, and the incentive is designed to help meet that demand across the Greater Toronto Area.
"Whether you’re hosting in Liberty Village or in Scarborough, you would still be able to get this incentive," McNama added. Currently, Toronto has 7,245 registered short-term rentals, with 85 percent of available listings during the World Cup priced under $500. "The more accommodations you have, the more affordable accommodations are going to be," he said.
The City of Toronto anticipates more than 300,000 out-of-town visitors for the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19. Toronto will host several matches at BMO Field, renamed Toronto Stadium for the event, including Canada's opening game on June 12 against the winner of the UEFA Path A playoff between Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Other group stage matches include Ghana versus Panama on June 17, Germany versus Cote d’Ivoire on June 20, Croatia versus Panama on June 23, and Senegal against a to-be-determined opponent on June 26. A Round of 32 knockout match is scheduled for July 2.
Canada's other group stage games will take place in Vancouver: against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. Visitors to Toronto should note that city council has approved a tax hike for hotels and short-term rentals like Airbnb during the event.
