Reeku is expanding to all U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping renters capitalize on the surge in apartment demand.
A Seattle-based proptech startup is betting the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be its breakthrough moment, and the real winners won’t be hotels.
Reeku, a co-hosted platform that helps renters monetize their apartments when they travel, announced Wednesday that it will expand its service to all World Cup host cities in the United States ahead of the tournament. The timing is intentional. The six-week event is expected to draw an estimated 6.5 million visitors to North America, and analysts are already warning of a severe accommodation shortage in the host market.
Game-day hotel room rates are more than 31 percent higher than non-game night rates, according to hospitality data firm Lighthouse. In Boston, where the U.S. national team will play its first game on June 13, the average nightly Airbnb price on that day was $483, about $200 more than on the same day last year, according to the Boston Globe.
How the model works
Alikiah Barclay, founder and CEO of Reeku, says the platform was built for moments just like this. Mr Barclay, a former travel consultant, said he had been paying full rent for years on an apartment he didn’t always live in and decided to build the infrastructure to help other renters avoid the same financial waste.
This model works as follows. Reeku partners with residents of buildings suitable for short-term rentals and takes over the entire hosting operation, including listing, pricing, guest vetting, cleaning and management, while the primary tenant is away. Berkeley argues that building owners will also see a reduction in their income, which will create adjustments across the housing stock.
“When the World Cup arrives, millions of local apartments will remain vacant and corporate hotels will reap billions in profits,” Barclay said in a statement. “Reeku exists to flip that scenario. We’re giving everyday renters the infrastructure to turn their biggest monthly expense into their biggest asset. Simply put, you can either live in your apartment or make money in your apartment.”
Capturing World Cup demand
The company announced it has completed more than 800 stays in its original San Francisco and Seattle markets, returning more than $500,000 to renters while maintaining a 4.8-star guest rating.
Based on AirDNA data, Reeku’s project expects participating rental customers to earn an average of $2,700 per week during the World Cup surge in demand, roughly double their normal income.
The company cites specific examples. One early user, identified only as Martin, turned a $1,000 loss on a trip to Europe (his San Francisco apartment was left vacant and hotel bills were incurred) into a $2,000 profit. Within six months, he made $10,000 through the platform. The company says nearby businesses will collect $17,742 this summer from World Cup bookings alone.
Victory near the host city
Beyond the benefits for individual renters, Reeku positions the model as a benefit to the host city’s neighborhoods. Deloitte estimates suggest that short-term rentals could divert $865 million in tourist spending from hotel districts to local districts. However, it should be noted that Deloitte’s report specifically focuses on Airbnb.
Reeku operates in the increasingly competitive field of proptech: turnkey STR co-hosting for renters, as opposed to the more established model of owner-focused short-term rental management. The key regulatory constraint remains the building-level STR policy. Reeku only operates in buildings that explicitly allow platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.
Renters in World Cup cities can calculate their expected earnings and sign up at fifa.reeku.co.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19, with matches taking place in 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Host cities in the United States include Dallas, New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey), Atlanta, Kansas City, Houston, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, Boston, and Miami.
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