With only 99 days remaining until the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has canceled 40% of the hotel reservations it had been holding in Mexico City, according to industry officials. The move has forced the capital’s hotel sector to adjust its commercial strategy just three months before the tournament begins.
Alberto Albarrán Leyva, General Director of the Mexico City Hotel Association (Asociación de Hoteles de la Ciudad de México), confirmed that the international football organization released approximately 800 of the 2,000 rooms it had blocked in advance for official delegations, sponsors, technical staff, and guests .
“There are fully booked hotels where 200 or 180 rooms have been cancelled,” Albarrán Leyva said, noting that toward the tournament “there have been more cancellations than new bookings” .
The reservations were part of FIFA’s logistical planning for the World Cup, with rooms blocked weeks in advance across various establishments in the capital. The cancellation represents a significant reduction in guaranteed occupancy that hotels had been expecting .
Reasons for the Cancellation Remain Unclear
Hotel association representatives stated they do not know the exact cause of the cancellations. According to reports, the decision was made through contract clauses that allow FIFA to release blocked inventory without financial penalty as long as it occurs within agreed timeframes .
Industry analysts suggest the move may respond to several factors, including adjustments in staffing needs for delegations and media, changing fan travel patterns, and competition from digital accommodation platforms . However, no official explanation has been provided by FIFA.
Current Occupancy Levels
Despite the approaching event, hotel occupancy related to the World Cup currently stands at only one-third of the 63,000 available rooms in Mexico City. The capital has approximately 800 hotels with a total capacity of 63,000 rooms, plus an additional 14,000 in the metropolitan area .
Albarrán Leyva emphasized that the city still has sufficient rooms to meet World Cup demand. “There are enough hotel rooms to attend the demand of the World Cup. We have always said this,” he stated
Economic Projections and Visitor Estimates
Consulting firm Deloitte estimates that 836,000 national and international visitors will arrive in Mexico City during the World Cup. The Hotel Association maintains a more optimistic projection of 1.5 to 2 million people, which would significantly impact the capital’s service sector .
The average spending per night is estimated at $350 USD (approximately 6,000 Mexican pesos), with an average stay of 1.8 days per visitor . These figures are key indicators for calculating the expected economic impact of the tournament.
New Commercial Strategy Required
The cancellation has forced the hotel sector to redesign its marketing and sales strategies to fill the newly available rooms. Albarrán Leyva indicated that the industry must work on promotion and coordinate experiences around the World Cup to retain tourists and attract visitors to Mexico City .
Despite the current low occupancy, hoteliers expect demand to recover as the tournament approaches. The association projects that by June 11, the opening day of the World Cup, average hotel occupancy will reach 85%, which is considered normal parameters for major international events .
Regional Tourism Connection
Hotel representatives noted that Mexico City could function as a connection point for visitors who subsequently travel to Jalisco and Nuevo León, other Mexican states that will also host World Cup matches. This regional dynamic is expected to contribute to an integrated national tourism flow during the tournament.