US Hotel Bookings Lag Behind Canada and Mexico Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Hotel bookings in US cities hosting 2026 World Cup matches are significantly lower than in Canadian and Mexican host cities, according to CoStar data analyzed by Newsweek. Visa concerns tied to Trump administration immigration policies and high ticket prices are cited as primary factors suppressing international demand for US accommodations. The disparity raises concerns for the US hospitality sector's ability to capitalize on the tournament compared to its co-host nations.
New data from CoStar reveals that Mexican and Canadian cities are outpacing US cities in hotel bookings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held across 16 cities in the three nations from June 11 to July 19. Among the 14 cities analyzed, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Vancouver, and Toronto lead in average booking percentages, while San Francisco ranks highest among US cities. A May report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association found that 80 percent of hoteliers surveyed reported bookings tracking below initial forecasts, with 65-70 percent attributing the shortfall to visa barriers and geopolitical concerns stemming from the Trump administration's immigration policies. Additional factors include expensive ticket prices, with some semifinal tickets ranging from $2,700 to $11,000, though some tickets have sold for under $100 due to low demand. FIFA has defended its dynamic pricing model, with President Gianni Infantino arguing that World Cup tickets cannot be priced below $300 given comparable sports entertainment costs in the US.
What's missing
The articles lack comparative analysis of booking patterns for previous World Cups or other major sporting events in the US to contextualize whether this underperformance is unusual. Additionally, there is limited discussion of how the three-country co-hosting arrangement itself may be affecting travel patterns and demand distribution across venues.
What different sources said
- NewsweekCenter
FIFA World Cup: How US Hotel Bookings Compare to Mexico and Canada
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