Updated on October 29, 2025
Next summer, millions of travelers from every corner of the globe will converge on North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matches in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will attract an influx of fans from more than 200 nations and provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity for short-term rental hosts.
Among their brimming calendars, hosts will also find themselves welcoming guests with customs, communication styles, and expectations that may differ from their own. This is an invitation to showcase your city, your culture, and the best of hospitality in the Western Hemisphere, and your RSVP is the right knowledge.
Why considering cultural differences is important
Cultural awareness is another way to build rapport with and show hospitality to your guests. When travelers feel welcome and respected, they’re more relaxed, more generous with their feedback, and more likely to recommend your home to others.
As Tim Rosolio of Expedia Group explained, “welcoming all guests drives both connection and growth.”
The company, which owns Vrbo, encourages hosts to use culturally aware and respectful language in listings and communications.
Airbnb’s Inclusive Practices guide requires hosts to welcome guests “of any race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age.”
The platform’s guidance materials encourage hosts to show openness from the very first line of their listing by stating that travelers from all backgrounds are welcome. Airbnb also advises avoiding cultural assumptions and applying the same professional standards when reviewing all guests.
Do your cultural homework
Preparation for international guests begins before they arrive and involves some research. Based on the qualifying teams already identified by FIFA, hosts can expect guests from South America, the Middle East, North Africa, as well as Japan and South Korea.
Mercedes Diane Griffin Forbes, who writes about cultural inclusivity in travel, recommends that hosts learn the basics of their guests’ customs, cultural norms, and dining practices. For example, fans from Latin America may view punctuality more loosely when they share their arrival time, or a Japanese guest might consider it impolite if you, your cleaner, or handyman enter the home wearing shoes.
Accommodate different dining customs
Understanding dining practices is another way to welcome international guests and prevent uncomfortable interactions. Guests from majority-Muslim countries often observe halal diets, which prohibit consuming pork or alcoholic beverages. So, you may want to consider refraining from offering local wines or beers as a welcome gift.
Japanese guests might eat only with chopsticks.
Jen Sexton, a short-term rental designer at HostGPO and host, suggests providing a diverse range of kitchen utensils and cookware to cater to various dietary preferences and cultural cooking styles. For example, you could add chopsticks to your utensil drawer.
“My friend who is Asian said, anytime I go to a short-term rental and they have chopsticks, it gives me this warm fuzzy feeling inside,” Jen said at the Vacation Rental Design Summit. “That may only happen two times a year, but you are creating an experience.
These gestures require little effort, yet they make a big impression by signaling to your guests that you respect their customs and consider their comfort.
Communicate across cultures
The FIFA World Cup has designated seven official languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, German, Portuguese, and Russian.
Language differences are one of the biggest sources of friction in the hospitality industry, but they’re also the easiest to bridge. Providing house manuals, directions, or emergency contact numbers in multiple languages fosters confidence and trust. If you can’t translate everything, highlight key sections such as Wi-Fi instructions, safety notes, and checkout steps.
Tone matters too. In many Asian cultures, directness can sound abrupt, whereas in others, it’s valued for its efficiency. A short note that says, “Please message me if anything feels unclear. I want you to feel at home,” helps smooth out friction and reminds your guest of your good intentions.
Artificial intelligence or translation applications, such as ChatGPT, can help translate information into the guests’ native languages efficiently, but empathy remains the most powerful translator. If a guest struggles to understand, slow down, use visuals, and stay patient.
Decor and symbolism
Cultural sensitivity also extends to the ambiance of your space. Mercedes cautions hosts to avoid decor that stereotypes or misrepresents traditions. Neutral, elegant interiors generally appeal to a wider audience, but incorporating a few authentic, local touches, such as art from a regional maker or a photo of your city’s landscape, can create a connection without appropriation.
Avoid using symbols or objects that may be misinterpreted across cultures. For example, decorative masks, certain animal motifs, or imagery tied to specific religions may be unsettling or offensive to some visitors. When in doubt, choose simplicity.
The culturally aware welcome
When guests arrive from halfway around the world, small courtesies make them feel immediately at home. A printed welcome note that greets them in their language, a brief explanation of local customs (such as tipping norms or recycling practices), and a neighborhood guide with diverse restaurant options, including kosher, halal, and vegetarian/vegan options, all convey thoughtfulness.
Mercedes also suggests including information about your area’s cultural richness, such as local festivals, immigrant-owned businesses, or authentic food markets.
“Promote the cultural richness of your location to enhance your guests’ experience,” she writes.
Handling misunderstandings
Even with the best preparation, cross-cultural misunderstandings can happen. A guest might misinterpret a rule or react differently to a household norm. When that happens, the most important thing is tone. Stay calm, assume good intentions, and use the moment as a learning opportunity. A gentle clarification preserves goodwill and diffuses tension.
Ask for reviews
Expedia Group encourages hosts to solicit reviews from travelers of all backgrounds. Having authentic, diverse reviews helps future guests from the same or similar cultures feel confident that your property is open and welcoming to everyone, Tim explained.
With fans from all over the globe descending on North America, hosts will play a pivotal yet understated role in shaping the world’s experience of the tournament. Every check-in, every conversation, every small act of cultural awareness contributes to that impression.
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