Mexico City Hotel Industry Opens Up Rooms for FIFA World Cup 2026
Mexico City's hotel industry group has reported that FIFA has released around 40% of the hotel rooms it had reserved in the city for the FIFA World Cup 2026. This move has made approximately 800 rooms available for general booking, just three months before the tournament kicks off in the capital. The block of rooms, totaling about 2,000, was initially held by FIFA for operational purposes during the competition.
Alberto Albarrán Leyva, the director general of the Mexico City Hotel Association, mentioned that some hotels, which were previously fully booked, had a significant portion of the FIFA block removed. This reduction in the reserved rooms has led to more cancellations than reservations, prompting hotels to open up these rooms for sale to other customers. Despite this, there are still about 1,200 rooms set aside for FIFA-related demand, representing roughly one-third of the available hotel rooms in Mexico City.
The Mexico City Tourism Secretariat clarified that reports of large-scale hotel cancellations were inaccurate and that the city is well-prepared to accommodate visitors during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Room allotments are being managed based on accreditations and agreements, with coordination between the city officials, FIFA's organizing team, and the hotel sector. The release of rooms back to the market is a standard practice in large events like this, following contractual deadlines and adjustments.
Mexico City is set to host the opening match of the World Cup on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium, with a total of five matches scheduled to take place in the city. The tournament dates in the capital run from June 11 to July 5, including group-stage games and knockout matches. The hotel blocks reserved for national teams, international media, and FIFA staff remain intact, while the broader lodging market caters to fans traveling for the matches and related events across the city.
In conclusion, the release of a significant number of hotel rooms previously held by FIFA for the World Cup 2026 in Mexico City has opened up more accommodation options for visitors. The city's hotel industry is working in coordination with FIFA and local authorities to ensure a smooth and successful hosting of the tournament, with adequate room supply to meet the demand from various stakeholders and fans.