With the 2026 FIFA World Cup a year away, Mexico faces a serious accommodation challenge. Experts warn that traditional hotels won’t suffice for the surge of visitors in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara, and propose modular housing, property conversions, and advanced booking technology to bridge the gap.
With just over a year to go until the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico is scrambling to close a looming gap in lodging capacity. Host cities Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara expect to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans—but current hotel infrastructure could fall so far short that demand may triple or even quadruple capacity. Helena Verron, CEO of The Smart Flat and founding member of the Real Estate Innovation and Transformation Cluster (CITI), warns that traditional hotels alone cannot solve the problem.
“Traditional hotels won’t cut it,” Verron says. “We need to integrate modular housing, repurpose existing buildings, and unlock underutilized properties—all under a regulatory framework that ensures safety and quality for visitors.”
A Deficit Beyond Hotels
Estimates suggest that the combined lodging capacity of the three host cities—though substantial—falls well below projected demand for the monthlong tournament. Even with plans to add temporary hotel rooms, experts say Mexico may face a shortfall of more than 100,000 rooms at peak times. Unaddressed, this gap could drive up prices, fuel speculation, and shut out budget-conscious fans.
“In an uncontrolled market, prices could skyrocket and limit access to fans with smaller budgets,” Verron cautions. “We need proactive measures now to prevent that scenario.”
Converting and Adapting Properties
One immediate solution involves converting vacant or underused buildings—such as office towers, warehouses, and student housing—into short-term lodging. Modular housing units, stacked and ready to install, can rapidly boost capacity near stadiums and fan zones. Cities like Monterrey already have wide boulevards and mixed-use developments that could accommodate prefabricated units alongside existing hotels.
“These modular units can be set up in weeks, not years,” says Verron. “They offer a flexible, scalable option that can be removed once the World Cup ends—leaving little to no permanent footprint.”
Adaptive reuse projects could also target residential apartment buildings with high vacancy rates. Recent data show vacancy rates in some central neighborhoods hover around 15 to 20 percent. By securing government incentives—tax breaks or temporary zoning changes—developers could turn those units into short-stay accommodations. This approach reduces construction time and leverages existing infrastructure, from plumbing to security systems.
Leveraging Technology to Curb Speculation
Beyond increasing physical capacity, regulators and industry leaders want to use technology to optimize room distribution and pricing. Verron advocates for a centralized booking platform that would aggregate all available accommodations—traditional hotels, modular units, and converted properties—into a single marketplace.
“By integrating AI-driven algorithms, we can adjust rates in real time, balancing supply and demand,” she explains. “That not only prevents price gouging but also ensures that fans find options matching their budgets.”
Such a platform could incorporate virtual reality (VR) tours, allowing remote visitors to preview rooms and neighborhoods before arrival. That transparency may reduce the risk of mismatched expectations and negative reviews. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence–powered chatbots could provide 24/7 customer service across multiple languages, instantly answering common questions about amenities, transportation, or local regulations.
“Technology not only prevents abuse, but also improves the visitor experience,” Verron notes. “Fans arriving from abroad want to feel confident that their booking is legitimate and safe.”
Regulatory Framework and Quality Assurance
Deploying nontraditional lodging at scale requires strong oversight. Cities must develop clear building codes for modular units and fast-track permitting processes for conversions. Officials in Guadalajara have already proposed a temporary zoning overlay that would allow pop-up lodging near major event sites. In Monterrey, the local tourism board is drafting guidelines for minimum safety standards—fire suppression, sanitation, and structural integrity—applicable to all nonhotel accommodations.
“Government must set the rules, then stay out of the way,” says Verron. “If we create a robust regulatory framework now, investors and developers will commit resources, knowing they won’t face last-minute hurdles.”
At the same time, authorities want to guard against creating a two-tiered lodging market. If high-end modular homes and luxury conversions dominate, lower-income fans could struggle to find affordable options. To prevent that, officials hope to reserve a portion of modular units and converted rooms for budget travelers. They also consider partnering with home-sharing platforms to certify and temporarily list vetted private residences.
Collaboration Across Sectors
Verron insists that success hinges on multisector collaboration. Government agencies, real estate developers, hospitality brands, tech companies, and community groups must coordinate efforts to deliver safe, affordable lodging for the World Cup—not only for the games themselves but for training sessions, ancillary events, and media coverage that stretch across weeks.
“This tournament is more than sport—it’s a catalyst to modernize Mexico’s real estate and tourism sectors,” Verron says. “By working together, we can leave a lasting legacy that extends well beyond the 90 minutes of a match.”
Local chambers of commerce and civic organizations are already convening roundtables to address workforce training, public transportation integration, and community engagement. In Mexico City, civic leaders want to ensure that pop-up housing developments benefit nearby neighborhoods, generating economic opportunities instead of displacing residents.
Risks of Delay
Time is running short. With less than 14 months until the opening match in Guadalajara, leaders must finalize plans by mid-2025 to secure financing, break ground on modular sites, and coordinate technology partnerships. Delays risk a last-minute scramble—one that could tarnish Mexico’s reputation as a capable host.
“If we plan boldly and ahead of time, what seems like a problem today can become a global success story,” Verron asserts. “But procrastination will only make this deficit harder to solve.”
A Path Forward
As the clock ticks toward kickoff, Mexico’s stakeholders face a clear choice: embrace innovation or risk an accommodation crisis. Through strategic property conversions, modular housing deployments, AI-driven booking platforms, and a tight regulatory framework, host cities can not only address immediate needs but also lay groundwork for future events. Above all, collaboration remains critical—to ensure that the World Cup leaves behind more than just memories of spectacular goals and unforgettable matches, but also a transformed approach to real estate and tourism.
If leaders act now, today’s looming challenge may become tomorrow’s blueprint for global events. But in the eyes of experts like Helena Verron, the window to act is closing fast—and the solutions demand more than wishful thinking. The time to mobilize is now.
