The FIFA World Cup 2026 will place Mexico at the center of global sports tourism, with millions of visitors expected and unprecedented pressure on the hotel infrastructure of its host cities. The real challenge will not only be to invest, but to expand capacity in time and under an effective regulatory framework.
The FIFA World Cup, the most important sporting event in the world, will once again arrive in Mexico, which will host 13 historic matches (out of the 104 matches to be distributed across the 3 host countries: Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), including the tournament’s opening ceremony scheduled to take place in Mexico City at the historic Estadio Azteca. According to official estimates published by the Ministry of Tourism, Mexico expects the arrival of approximately 5.5 million international visitors during the tournament, representing a 44% increase in tourist flow compared to previous years. This exponential growth poses a major logistical challenge, especially regarding lodging capacity in the host cities: Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.
As a starting point, Mexico City, known for its solid hotel infrastructure, still does not have enough supply to accommodate the 2.6 million tourists expected to arrive during the FIFA World Cup 2026. By the end of November 2025, the capital city had approximately 77,000 rooms in operation, with capacity for 170,000 people, and by December already had 40% of reservations confirmed, with projections of up to 85% occupancy during the matches. With the aim of strengthening this capacity and coordinating long-term strategies for the benefit of the city ahead of the sporting event, on June 13, 2025, the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism of Mexico City (in Spanish, CANACO) formalized the installation of the Tourism Subcommittee for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which seeks to add 3,000 additional rooms by 2026 through a strategic alliance between the public and private sectors to meet the growing demand from national and international tourists.
In contrast to Mexico City, Nuevo León currently has 133 hotel complexes and around 18,000 rooms in operation, a considerably smaller capacity compared to the capital. However, the head of the Ministry of Tourism of Nuevo León, Maricarmen Martínez, confirmed that the state expects to receive approximately 375,000 international tourists during the FIFA World Cup 2026. To meet this demand, the inauguration of 10 new hotels is planned between 2025 and 2026, adding about 1,000 additional rooms and significantly expanding lodging capacity in the Monterrey metropolitan area.
Guadalajara, for its part, is also strengthening its hotel offering. In the last months, investments in tourism infrastructure, improvements in air connectivity, and new cultural and gastronomic routes linked to the World Cup matches have been announced. Governor Pablo Lemus, together with the Jalisco Hotel Association (in Spanish, the AHJ), confirmed a “historic investment” of 20 billion pesos for the development of 38 new hotels, with which capacity is projected to reach 90,000 rooms by 2030.
Moreover, it is estimated that 2.5 million of the 5.5 million expected tourists will visit Guadalajara during June 2026. To meet this demand, of the 38 projected hotels, 12 will open their doors before the World Cup, adding around 1,500 additional rooms to the more than 30,000 that currently make up the hotel offer in the metropolitan area of the city.
Despite the joint effort between the public and private sectors to expand hotel infrastructure in the host cities, the projected visitor numbers make it clear that the installed capacity remains limited in the face of the challenge posed by the FIFA World Cup 2026. With demand expanding rapidly and inventory barely keeping pace, each new room represents a key piece in the growth strategy.
While the projected hotel investments ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 offer a unique opportunity to strengthen infrastructure and boost Mexico’s tourism industry (especially in its host cities) its execution will depend on developers and local authorities expediting the issuance of licenses, permits, and authorizations, essential procedures to ensure that each new establishment meets the necessary standards of quality, safety, and tourism regulations. In other words, the challenge is not only to build, but to do so on time, complying with regulations and standards that guarantee a quality experience for millions of tourists.
Mexico implemented a special tax regime for the FIFA World Cup 2026, effective from the last quarter of 2025 and throughout the event. This regime provides exemptions from federal taxes (including income tax and Value Added Tax) and relief from certain obligations for FIFA and individuals or entities directly involved in the organization and related events, such as federations, sponsors, and duly linked providers. The access requirements, operational scope, and specific beneficiaries will be specified through general rules issued by the tax authority, in accordance with the transitional articles of the Federal Revenue Law 2026 (in Spanish, Ley de Ingresos de la Federación 2026). This framework seeks to encourage investment and expedite the execution of projects related to the competition. However, its application is limited to activities directly linked to the World Cup and does not replace compliance with local regulations or quality and safety standards. More than building, the key is to do so on time and in accordance with regulations to offer a first-class experience to millions of visitors.
In this sense, beyond the commercial aspect of the industry, having a clear understanding of the legal framework is not accessory, but a condition for investments to materialize, permits to flow, and for Mexico to truly be ready to welcome spectators.
