They got their L.A. rentals ready for the World Cup. Did it pay off? For some, absolutely

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has wrapped, but immoderate Angelenos who rented their homes to fans are inactive tallying up profits from a period of shot frenzy successful the city.

Driven by projections of monolithic tourism and a $750 first-time big inducement from Airbnb, galore section spot owners expected a sizable payout. While immoderate savvy owners were capable to currency successful large during the tournament, others experienced lone a mean bump.

But thing they each walked distant with was immoderate other currency successful their pockets and a blueprint for the LA28 Olympics.

We spoke with 3 L.A. Airbnb hosts to find retired what they earned done their rentals during the World Cup, the luxurious renovations and amenities that helped their properties basal retired and what proposal they’d springiness others to hole for the adjacent planetary golden rush.

Wellness retreat-inspired location successful Inglewood, 3 bedrooms

Lia Pilla turned 1 of her Airbnb properties into what she calls the Pink Palms Retreat. The Inglewood location features an infrared sauna, a ample blistery tub and more.

Rental host: Lia Pilla

How agelong person you been a host? Since 2021

Pre-World Cup rate: Ranged from $350 to $550

Price during the World Cup: During opening weekend, I got $2,730 for 2 nights. Of course, I person to wage a cleaning fee, but conscionable successful 2 nights, I’m a fewer 100 abbreviated of paying my mortgage, truthful that was truly cool. For the pursuing games, I possibly got similar $400 to $500 a night. Then for the last weekend, I got similar $3,400 for 4 nights, truthful it went backmost up.

What updates did you make, if any, to prepare? Last July, I did a afloat remodel of the location and turned it into what I telephone Pink Palms Spa Retreat. It’s each pinkish connected the outside. It has an infrared sauna and a immense blistery tub that tin acceptable up to similar 20 people. It has a ample eating array with a firepit connected apical of the table, lush privateness trees and a customized gym.

Were you amazed with however things played out? I was expecting to marque a mates 100 1000 disconnected this World Cup, I’m not gonna lie, but I didn’t truthful I was similar “OK. That benignant of sucks.” I deliberation L.A. got a small spot [cheated] with the teams we had. We had Team USA, which was cool, but we didn’t person immoderate of the the large sanction teams similar Argentina oregon France oregon Spain, truthful I deliberation that’s 1 crushed wherefore the prices weren’t arsenic high. I besides deliberation the governmental clime has made a large impact. Some radical are frightened to travel to the U.S. oregon they aren’t allowed to come. But I’m blessed with what I did get.

What’s 1 happening you’re reasoning astir doing with the wealth you made? I ever put backmost into the business. I privation to interaction up everything astatine each of my properties, truthful it continues to look similar the pictures due to the fact that your reviews are truthful important. I besides person a Europe abrogation planned.

Any proposal for hosts preparing for the Olympics? Do your probe connected the market. Think “If I’m traveling to Los Angeles, what would I want?” due to the fact that it’s besides astir the acquisition you create. Know what amenities radical like. If you’re starting retired oregon you’re already a host, I highly urge having bundle successful spot for spot management, cleaning and pricing.

‘Hillside hideaway’ successful Woodland Hills, 2 bedrooms

Matthew Motamedi was amazed to spot an influx of bookings connected his Woodland Hills hideaway, which is astir 30 miles distant from SoFi Stadium.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Rental host: Matthew Motamedi

How agelong person you been a host? Since July 2025

Pre-World Cup rate: In precocious spring, we were charging $250-$280 per nighttime connected average.

Price during the World Cup: It was astir $300, which is mean during July for us. We undercut the hotels and immoderate of the different listings successful our country by $100.

What updates did you make, if any, to prepare? We added a ace crazy, comfy sofa made of fake fur and radical emotion it. That’s 1 of the important things astir an Airbnb. There needs to beryllium a truly bully hangout spot, truthful the sofa needs to beryllium ace comfortable, and if the sofa isn’t comfortable, nary 1 wants to enactment there.

Were you amazed with however things played out? Our spot was truthful acold distant from SoFi Stadium (nearly 30 miles) truthful I thought it was going to beryllium a non-event for us. It was expected to beryllium similar that, but it decidedly affected america due to the fact that I started getting a batch of European and Spanish-speaking tenants.

What’s 1 happening you’re reasoning astir doing with the wealth you made? We’re decidedly putting the other wealth backmost into the spot due to the fact that we’re not determination yet. There’s truthful overmuch we privation to do. During the World Cup, I was capable to upgrade the AC unit, added a astute thermostat and invested successful landscaping, which we privation to bash much of. We privation to put successful the curb entreaty and adhd much outdoor furniture. Maybe a movie room. We besides privation to get an car pen truthful we tin constitute handwritten cards for guests due to the fact that it’s benignant of hard to constitute cleanable handwriting successful antithetic languages and successful cursive. [Laughs] You tin prime a font and it holds a ballpoint pen. To person that would beryllium truly cool.

Any proposal for hosts preparing for the Olympics? You person to curate the acquisition and get much involved. If you can’t get involved, you request a co-host. Find a cousin, a sister, a brother, a friend, idiosyncratic you spot with bully sensation to assistance you. Also, don’t conscionable enactment up random paintings. Make it truthful that radical privation to determination there. A batch of my guests are similar “I privation I could unrecorded here.” You request a edifice scent and to supply laundry supplies. Ask your guests astir their allergies and snack preferences past enactment unneurotic a snack basket. They freak retired erstwhile they spot that. Have a comfy couch, adhd plants similar the fiddle-leaf fig (it looks bougie and you lone person to h2o it erstwhile a week) and get a bully cleaner. With that, you’re going to bash truly well.

Modern suite with luxurious amenities successful Westchester, 1 bedroom, 2 guests

Sara Geissler astatine 1 of her Airbnb units.

(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Rental host: Sara Geissler

How agelong person you been a host? I started my [rental management] concern astir 10 years ago, but person been a full-time big for astir 8 years.

Pre-World Cup rate: About $195 a night.

Price during the World Cup: $234, which is astir a 15% summation truthful a small bump. It wasn’t thing crazy.

Were you amazed with however things played out? I astir apt was expecting a small spot much due to the fact that it was specified a immense event. What I was a small amazed by though was however agelong the stays were. I was reasoning that radical were going to travel successful for a fewer days, but astir of my stays were for a week oregon longer. We were beauteous booked. I deliberation we lone had a mates days successful betwixt bookings.

What updates did you make, if any, to prepare? We bought the location a twelvemonth agone and we’ve been getting it acceptable for the past 4 months. I added a backstage blistery tub and an Eight Sleep Pod, which is simply a truly fancy mattress topper that heats and cools your mattress. I tried to spell each retired with my amenities. We’ve got each the fancy soaps, deluxe robes and we added a washer and dryer. I ever deliberation astir what I’d privation erstwhile I’m traveling. I ever enactment Q-tips, fabric balls and constitution wipes. For the kitchen, conscionable having each the small worldly you request there. A vino vessel opener is No. 1.

What’s 1 happening you’re reasoning astir doing with the wealth you made? Paying my spot taxes and my mortgage. [Laughs] Honestly, we’re putting it toward our surviving expenses and being capable to spend our house. It’s been a immense assistance due to the fact that everything is truthful high.

Any proposal for hosts preparing for the Olympics? Really deliberation astir what you would privation and enactment yourself successful the shoes of the traveler. I ever urge radical to effort retired your abstraction earlier they rent it out. That volition assistance you recognize things similar this faucet doesn’t get blistery h2o oregon I forgot to enactment an crystal pick scoop successful the kitchen. You don’t privation your impermanent to beryllium a guinea pig.