Article by Alexandru Stanciu – Published Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 8:29 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 8:30 p.m.
Hotel prices in cities that will host matches from the 2026 World Cup are expected to explode, with a study revealing an average increase of 300% per night. In some cases, the price increase can reach a percentage of over 2,000%.
According to an analysis published by The Athletic, which examined the competition's 16 host cities, there are already dizzying increases.
Hotel price increases of over 2,000% during the 2026 World Cup
The most extreme case concerns a hotel in Mexico City, where the price for one night has increased by 2,373%. Specifically, a room that at the end of May this year cost $157 (about €135), for June 10 and 11, 2026, the dates of the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, reached $3,882 (about €3,330) through the Marriott Bonvoy app.
In general, hotels in cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico have already raised their prices by hundreds of dollars for the tournament period. The average price for a room during the World Cup is $1,013, while for the same dates three weeks earlier (mid-May 2026), the cost is just $293, marking an increase of 328%.
In the Mexico hotels analyzed, the average price increase reached an impressive 610%. Ciudad de Mexico holds the upper hand, with the average nightly price rising from $172 to $1,572, a 961% increase. At the opposite pole, the most moderate increase was seen in Toronto, where prices rose by 78%.
Romania did not qualify for the World Championship, and the only chance to reach the final tournament is through the European play-off. In the first match, the national team will play away against Turkey, and in case of a victory, the final will also take place away, with the winner between Slovakia and Kosovo.
