Hotel Reservations Lag in Mexico, US, and Canada Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Mexico City — Hotel occupancy in the three host nations of the 2026 World Cup — Mexico, the United States, and Canada — is running well below initial projections, with less than two months to go before the tournament kicks off.

Industry analysts point to a lack of marquee teams playing in Mexico and Canada, while political tensions and visa hurdles are deterring international travelers from visiting the United States.

In Mexico City, which will host the opening match and five other games, advance bookings stood at less than 30% as of late April, according to STR, a hospitality data analytics firm owned by CoStar. Patricia Boo, STR’s regional director for Latin America, described the situation as “very worrying” and “unusual,” noting that pricing has been more cautious than during other major events like the Olympics.

Across Mexico’s three host cities — Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara — reserved occupancy ranged from 20% to 40%, well below expectations, STR reported on April 21.

Despite the sluggish numbers, some local officials remain optimistic. Michelle Fridman Hirsch, Jalisco’s tourism secretary, told CoStar that travel demand to Guadalajara is still growing. “Bookings have accelerated in recent weeks, and we are especially encouraged by the interest from first-time visitors coming specifically for the World Cup,” she said.

Nessi Behar, general manager of the Casona Roma Norte hotel in Mexico City, said activity is steady and increasing. “We are confident we can easily reach 90% occupancy during June,” he told CoStar. However, he noted that hotels are feeling the effects of a late draw — the group-stage pairings were only announced on March 31 — and a booking surge was expected in early May.

Canada is facing a similar slowdown. CoStar reported that hotel occupancy in the country has been sluggish since the match schedule was released. Sukhdev Toor, president and CEO of Manga Hotel Group, which operates 11 hotels in the Toronto area, said expectations were high in December but have not materialized. “Rates remain stable and are still much better than in normal years,” he said, though he acknowledged that occupancy has not matched the levels seen during Taylor Swift’s tour.

Tourism Economics identified England, France, Brazil, Argentina, and Portugal as the fan bases most likely to drive hotel demand during the World Cup. None of those teams will play a group-stage match in Mexico or Canada, CoStar noted, meaning both countries will host teams with less economic impact. Each co-host will stage 13 matches, and both will field their own national teams, which could boost domestic tourism.

In the United States, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) reported that 80% of surveyed hoteliers say booking levels are far below initial optimistic forecasts. Factors include visa restrictions, global geopolitical tensions, and an oversupply of rooms initially allocated by FIFA, which created artificial demand that later collapsed when inventory was released.

AHLA President Rosanna Maietta said that while enthusiasm exists, the data calls for a nuanced outlook due to rising transportation and operational costs.

The association provided a city-by-city breakdown:

• Kansas City: 85% to 90% of hotels report booking pace below a typical summer without sports events.
• Los Angeles: 70% of respondents cite low demand due to visa barriers, high labor costs, and stadium distance.
• New York: Two-thirds of operators report low occupancy, citing geopolitical uncertainty as the main deterrent for foreign tourists.
• Dallas and Houston: 70% of hotels show limited momentum, with reservation levels similar to an ordinary July vacation season.
• Atlanta: A positive exception, with 50% of hotels exceeding expectations thanks to air connectivity and team base camps.
• Miami: Reports a stronger booking pace, successfully capturing leisure demand tied to the tournament.
• Boston and Seattle: 80% of establishments rate the World Cup as having no real economic impact so far due to low visitor numbers.
• Philadelphia and San Francisco: Facing a crisis of expectations after FIFA released rooms, leaving a gap in hotel supply.

Many hotels have suspended temporary renovations and special collaborations for the tournament, the AHLA said. The report warned that last-minute state policies and rising local taxes are hurting consumer spending. The association urged authorities to ensure a smooth experience for foreign visitors by eliminating unnecessary costs in the US visa process.