Hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico have sharply raised room rates ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A study of 96 properties found average nightly rates near opening-game dates climbed to $1,013 from $293 — a 328% increase. One Mexico City hotel jumped from $157 to $3,882 per night during the tournament, and the surge notably exceeds rate increases seen during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Staggering Spike: Hotels Raise Nightly Rates 328% On Average Ahead Of 2026 World Cup
FIFA World Cup trophy
Hotels across the United States, Mexico and Canada are sharply increasing room rates as host cities prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with some properties charging eye-watering prices during tournament dates.
How Big Are The Hikes?
A report from The Athletic found that, across a sample of 96 hotels, the average nightly rate around an opening-game date jumped to $1,013, up from $293 for the same properties 21 days earlier — an average increase of 328%. Spikes of this magnitude come as hotels position themselves to capture demand from fans, teams, and media attending one of the world’s largest sporting events.
An Extreme Example
The report highlighted a striking example in Mexico City: a hotel that listed a late-May 2026 rate of $157 per night but shows a tournament-period rate of $3,882 per night. That single-property jump illustrates how dramatic price-setting can be when a major event schedule is confirmed.
Context And Comparisons
Event-driven rate increases are not unprecedented. Smith Travel Research reported that Paris saw a year-over-year room-rate increase of 141% during the 2024 Olympics. Still, the immediate 328% average surge observed after the World Cup schedule was released appears substantially larger across the three host countries.
Source: The Athletic; coverage republished by Mediaite.
What This Means For Travelers: If you plan to attend matches or visit host cities during the World Cup, consider booking early, exploring alternative neighborhoods, comparing short-term rentals and hotels, and using price trackers or alerts to spot unusually high spikes.
