The quarterfinal stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, commenced on July 10th.
Data from the Tongcheng Travel (00780) platform indicates that the booking popularity for hotel rooms with home entertainment systems in China around the quarterfinals (July 9-10) increased by 53% compared to the opening days of the tournament (June 11-12).
With the final eight teams and all four quarterfinal matchups now confirmed, a significant number of previously hesitant fans have made last-minute bookings as the tournament progresses.
Specifically, 60% of the bookings for check-ins on July 9th were secured within 24 hours of the stay date.
The scheduling of high-stakes matches over the next three days is expected to push viewership engagement to its highest level since the tournament began.
According to Tongcheng Travel's data, bookings for party houses and two-bedroom, one-living-room style homestays for the period of July 9th to 12th have surged 48% month-on-month.
Medium-sized party houses accommodating 6 to 10 people are in particularly high demand.
To enhance the viewing experience, some popular homestays have gone beyond standard large-screen projection equipment by adding interactive features like board games, jersey photo zones, and themed decorations, along with exclusive event promotions such as "guess the score to win a free stay."
Analyzing room types, bookings for twin rooms, family rooms, and suites suitable for multiple occupants now account for nearly 50% of all home entertainment room reservations, marking an approximate 8 percentage point increase from the opening weekend.
This indicates that social-oriented room types have captured half of the market for these specialized accommodations.
Furthermore, with quarterfinal matches scheduled from late evening to morning hours, fans' dual demand for "comfortable viewing and convenient dining" is fueling the popularity of room packages that include meals.
Late-night matches drive a need for supper, while morning games prompt a desire for breakfast beforehand.
Bookings for home entertainment rooms that include breakfast are growing at a faster rate than those without, showing a 21% year-on-year increase.
Room packages that offer complimentary late-night snacks are also highly sought after, solidifying the "home entertainment room plus meals" combination as a standard choice for fans' tournament accommodation.
Concurrently, the domestic football atmosphere in China is heating up during the summer holiday period, with regional city leagues such as the Jiangsu Super League, Sichuan Super League, Jiangxi Super League, and Northeast Super League in full swing.
While some match schedules have been slightly adjusted due to typhoon weather, fan enthusiasm remains undiminished.
Tongcheng Travel data shows a notable rise in hotel booking popularity around the venues for these domestic matches.
Cities hosting games, including Suzhou, Chengdu, Nanchang, and Changchun, have become hotspots for concentrated fan stays.
Hotels located near venues and offering amenities like home entertainment systems or late check-out services are particularly favored, highlighting a clear summer sports consumption trend that blends "big-screen viewing" with "live stadium attendance."
Analysis from Tongcheng Travel's research unit suggests that the sustained increase in bookings for home entertainment rooms and themed homestays, from the World Cup's opening to the quarterfinal stage, reflects a shift in fan demand.
The desire for high-quality, immersive viewing experiences is moving from an initial trial phase towards becoming a normalized expectation.
Viewing behavior is evolving into a deeper form of social consumption, with a composite model of "event + socializing + accommodation" taking shape.
As the tournament enters the final eight stage and more marquee matchups are set to unfold, booking demand for home entertainment rooms and party houses is anticipated to climb even higher.
Comments