World Cup 2026: Airbnb Bookings in Mexico City Show Limited Impact
Mexico City, June 13, 2026 – Despite an observed increase in Airbnb reservations in Mexico City during the period of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the impact is not significant and is unlikely to be solely attributable to the sporting event. This was revealed by Yesua Martínez Torres, a Doctor in Urban Studies from El Colegio de México, during a presentation at UNAM.
Factors Influencing Low Reservation Rates
Martínez Torres presented preliminary results of his research titled “The effect of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Airbnb activity in cities in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.” He explained that in Mexico City, this behavior can be attributed to the city’s urban structure, the intra-urban location of the stadium, and the quantity and type of matches scheduled to take place.
The expert, specializing in housing markets and econometrics, analyzed occupation rates of Airbnb listings in five host cities: Mexico City, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver. The study period commenced on January 5 and will conclude on August 31 of this year, focusing on properties located within approximately 10 kilometers of each stadium.
Martínez Torres elaborated that the low reservation rate in Mexico City, in particular, could be due to its urban structure. Tourists might be opting for accommodations in areas with a higher tourist appeal, such as Roma, Condesa, and Polanco, rather than those closer to the stadium.
Global Distribution of Matches and Potential Demand Shifts
He further noted that out of the 104 matches comprising the World Cup, 13 will be held in Mexico, an equal number in Canada, and 84 in the United States. It is possible that a significant increase in accommodation demand will occur during the final stages of the tournament.
The occupation rates observed were: Vancouver, 54 percent; Toronto, 46.9 percent; Seattle, 41.2 percent; San Francisco Bay Area, 35.2 percent; and Mexico City, 28.2 percent. This is despite Mexico City having the highest number of registered properties on the platform, with 18,118 listings, followed by Toronto with 9,544; San Francisco Bay Area with 5,818; Seattle with 4,789; and Vancouver with 3,687.
The expert indicated that reservations are decreasing in Toronto and Vancouver by three to five percentage points, while in Mexico City, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area, the increases are not significant within approximately 10 kilometers of the stadiums or less.
Challenges for International Spectators and Event Fragmentation
During a conference at the Center for Research on North America (CISAN), and in the presence of its director, Juan Carlos Barrón Pastor, and the coordinator of the Social and Cultural Studies Area, Alejandro Mercado Celis, the expert from Colmex highlighted that, unlike previous World Cups, this event requires people to mobilize across different countries. Visa issues and the high price of match tickets could also affect attendance.
Juan Carlos Barrón pointed out that in other sporting events, the connectivity of stadiums or venues has proven to be a more crucial factor than mere proximity. Alejandro Mercado added that the study opens new avenues of research regarding the World Cup, emphasizing that the geographical fragmentation of the event will make it complex for fans to fully follow their national teams.
The findings suggest that while Mexico City is a major hub for Airbnb listings, the World Cup’s impact on short-term rentals near stadium areas is not as pronounced as might be expected, influenced by broader urban dynamics and logistical considerations for international travelers.
Source: https://mexico.quadratin.com.mx/cdmx-aun-escazo-el-impacto-positivo-en-reservaciones-en-airbnb/
