World Cup Hotel Bookings: U.S. Falls Behind Mexico and Canada

3 weeks ago 0

With the World Cup approaching, Canada and Mexico are leading the United States in hotel bookings in cities hosting matches. Scheduled for June and July, the World Cup spans 16 cities across these three countries, promising potential growth for the hospitality sector. However, data shared with Newsweek by CoStar reveals U.S. hotels are not experiencing the same benefits as those in Canada or Mexico. The data highlights that visa concerns have dampened demand.

World Cup Hotel Bookings: Mexico, Canada, and U.S. Compared

CoStar’s data examines hotel bookings in 14 of the 16 cities hosting World Cup matches, excluding Kansas City and Philadelphia. This analysis focuses on bookings for each match day. Mexican and Canadian cities dominate the top four spots in average booking percentages, with San Francisco leading U.S. cities. The top-ranking cities by booking rate are:

Guadalajara
Monterrey
Vancouver
Toronto
Mexico City
New York City
Boston
San Francisco
Seattle
Miami
Los Angeles
Dallas
Houston
Atlanta

Some cities, based on the data, show lower booking percentages in 2026 compared to the previous year. For example, Los Angeles recorded a 23.6 percent booking rate on July 10, down slightly from 24 percent a year earlier. Some hoteliers might be waiting for last-minute bookings closer to the matches.

Visa Concerns and High Prices Affect Hotel Demand

An American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) report from May indicated that 80 percent of hoteliers in World Cup host cities reported bookings below initial forecasts. It noted that 65 to 70 percent of respondents pointed to “visa barriers and broader geopolitical concerns” suppressing international demand, linked to immigration policies.

According to AHLA President Rosanna Maietta, the U.S. and FIFA must ensure a seamless experience for international visitors. This involves avoiding unnecessary cost increases on visas and transportation, and discouraging municipalities from imposing last-minute tax hikes.

Expensive ticket prices are also a factor. The Associated Press reported tickets for a June 14 semifinal in Arlington, Texas, range from $2,705 to $11,130, while a semifinal in Atlanta the next day is priced from $2,725 to $10,635. Some tickets have been available for under $100 due to low demand.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended market rates for tickets, stating that watching a major game in the U.S. typically costs over $300. FIFA’s ticketing system, criticized for its ‘dynamic pricing’ model, is under investigation by New York and New Jersey’s attorneys general.

Despite limited hotel demand, data from Airbnb and Booking.com showed an increase in accommodation searches and bookings for match dates. Fans attending matches should expect higher hotel rates in host cities.