World Cup markets show strong construction activity

“Many cities have seized this opportunity to embrace a global trend: building hospitality and entertainment districts around sports stadiums,” said Bruce Ford, senior vice president and director of Global Business Development for LE. “With numerous new brands and nearby convention centers, this approach is a natural fit for the right developers.”

The World Cup, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across three nations simultaneously.

Dallas leads US development

Among U.S. host cities, Dallas leads with 154 new construction projects, totaling 20,067 rooms. The market is benefiting from the recent opening of Texas Live, which is adjacent to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which added 1,200 rooms in 2024 and 2025. Looking ahead to 2026, Dallas expects 24 new projects totaling 2,691 rooms, while 30 renovation and conversion projects will add 6,241 rooms to the market.

Miami follows with 109 new construction projects representing 19,722 rooms within a 20-mile radius of Miami Stadium. Nine new-build projects are forecasted to open in 2026, delivering 2,369 rooms.

New York/New Jersey, host of the July 19 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, shows 71 projects with 12,037 rooms in construction, with extreme renovation activity featuring 39 projects representing 9,389 rooms. Ten new properties are forecast to open in 2026, adding 2,007 rooms to the inventory.

Los Angeles presents healthy new construction numbers across both the Coliseum (75 projects, 13,964 rooms) and Rose Bowl (64 projects, 12,372 rooms) markets. The San Francisco Bay Area's Levi's Stadium market shows 31 projects with 4,983 rooms in construction, though only two new properties totaling 210 rooms are forecast to open in 2026. Additionally, Seattle has 18 new construction projects accounting for 2,719 rooms.

Atlanta's market features 65 new construction projects with 9,001 rooms, including the 976-key Signia by Hilton, which opens directly across from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2025. Houston shows 45 projects with exceptional renovation activity. In the Boston area, hotel construction around Gillette Stadium totaled 15 projects and 2,254 rooms, with 2 projects and 156 rooms scheduled to open in 2026, while Kansas City and Philadelphia round out the U.S. markets with steady pipelines.

Canada, Mexico show steady activity 

Toronto Stadium's market leads Canadian hotel construction with 63 projects and 10,786 rooms, the highest project count among all host cities in Canada. Seven new properties are forecast to open in 2026, totaling 1,262 rooms, while 11 renovation and conversion projects will deliver 4,473 rooms. 

Vancouver's BC Place market shows 31 new construction projects with 5,383 rooms. Five new builds are expected to open in 2026 with 664 rooms, and two renovation projects will add 274 rooms to the upgraded inventory.

Among Mexico's three host cities, Guadalajara features 26 projects with 3,000 rooms, while Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, which will host the tournament's opening match on June 11, shows 25 projects representing 2,861 rooms. Monterrey's market has 13 projects totaling 1,591 rooms, with vigorous renovation activity.

With the tournament still months away, development activity continues to evolve. The 2026 forecast openings represent properties already under construction or in advanced planning stages. Markets with direct stadium-adjacent developments or those hotels nearby hope to see particular benefits from their proximity to these venues, commanding premium rates not only during World Cup matches but also for year-round events these stadiums host.