Mexico's tourist housing sector eyes World Cup profits amid resident displacement fears

Mexico's tourism housing market is looking forward to the 2026 World Cup, expecting a significant boost in profits. Sean Cázares, director general of the Mexican Association of Tourist Housing (Amvitur), believes the tournament will drive higher occupancy rates, particularly during the knockout stages. He anticipates a "positive balance" for the sector this year, which in Mexico City alone has over 23,000 tourist apartments.

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we are sure that there will be a very important increase in demand in the elimination phases.

Airbnb's CEO, Brian Chesky, shares this optimism, calling the World Cup the "biggest event in history" for the vacation rental platform. However, not everyone shares this positive outlook. Ángel Torres, president of the organization Todos Somos Anfitriones, argues that the World Cup's impact is "oversized" and expectations are "inflated," predicting no "record profits" due to regulatory uncertainty.

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the biggest event in history

Meanwhile, residents like Sergio Juaricua are sounding the alarm about the negative consequences. He points to neighborhoods in Mexico City where the World Cup has worsened the housing crisis, leading to "forced displacement" of residents and the closure of traditional businesses. Juaricua cites Colonia Juárez, where he lives, as an example, stating that 35% of available housing is now on vacation rental platforms. He claims that in just 10 years, the neighborhood has seen 40% of its population displaced and 90% of its local businesses vanish, largely due to the proliferation of tourist apartments driven by events like the World Cup.

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the weight of the World Cup has been 'oversized' and expectations are 'inflated,' so there will be 'no record benefit'

Juaricua criticizes Mexico City authorities for prioritizing this business model during the tournament, arguing that "citizens are the big losers." He laments that a "football festival" has led to the suspension of citizens' rights, transforming neighborhoods into "theme parks" for tourists. This perspective highlights a stark contrast between the economic aspirations of the tourism sector and the lived experiences of local communities facing gentrification and displacement.

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forced displacements of inhabitants and the closure of traditional businesses