same happens to me.. the force host works for ppl with a good connection, but when you don't have a perfect connection speed AND nat type OPEN it won't work & you'll wait in your lobby forever.. some ppl will join but only 1 at a time & they'll leave eventually
i have a decent connection (30Mbps down 1Mbps up) i know it might look stupid but i've got the highest speed available (apart from optic fibre @ home but that's waaaaaaaay to expensive) & it still doesn't work for me.. if i invite ppl in a FFA lobby i get host, always.. but if look for a game on my own, it never works..