FIFA Cancels 40% of Mexico City Hotel Bookings for 2026 World Cup, Sparking Uncertainty

Mexico City — FIFA has canceled 40% of its hotel reservations in Mexico City for the 2026 World Cup, a move that has left local tourism officials scrambling and prompted the Mexican government to seek answers.

According to the Mexico City Hotel Association, the cancellations affect around 800 of the 2,000 rooms originally booked by FIFA for the tournament. The association’s director general, Alberto Albarrán Leyva, said that entire hotels were canceled, with some establishments losing between 180 and 200 rooms at once.

“Hotels were completely canceled,” Albarrán said, noting that in some cases, cancellations have outpaced new bookings.

FIFA has not provided an official reason for the decision, which comes just months before the tournament’s opening match on June 11, 2026, at the Azteca Stadium—now called Banorte Stadium. The news coincided with recent violent incidents following the killing of drug cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” raising concerns in the hotel sector about security ahead of the major international event.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the issue during her morning press conference on Wednesday after it went viral on social media. She said authorities are “checking if the information is true” and that she was unaware of the situation. She plans to contact Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico’s representative to FIFA, for more details and to clarify the sports body’s concerns.

Despite the cancellations, the Mexico City Hotel Association projects hotel occupancy could still reach 85% during the opening match. The city currently has 63,000 hotel rooms across 800 properties. Consulting firm Deloitte estimates that 836,000 domestic and international tourists could arrive for the World Cup, with local projections suggesting 1.5 to 2 million visitors throughout the tournament.

The average nightly hotel rate is expected to be around $350, indicating significant economic impact if tourism remains strong. Albarrán emphasized the need for targeted campaigns and partnerships to attract both national and international tourists, focusing on preventing further booking drops and optimizing peak dates.

The hotel industry is now rethinking its plans, seeking to diversify its market and design offers that extend tourists’ stays beyond soccer matches. The goal is to position Mexico City as a destination offering unique experiences during the World Cup, using innovative strategies to maintain hotel occupancy and maximize economic benefits.