Local News Houston hoteliers say World Cup bookings trailing rodeo occupancy numbers

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Local News
Houston hoteliers say World Cup bookings trailing rodeo occupancy numbers

FIFA is coming to Houston. Will the tourists be there?

Nicole Nielsen, Reporter
Published: May 15, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Updated: May 16, 2026 at 6:59 AM

HOUSTON – Houston hoteliers anticipated a tourism gold rush when the city landed FIFA World Cup matches, rooms sold out months in advance, premium rates, and visitors flooding in from across the globe.

But with the tournament now just weeks away, many hotel operators say the massive surge in bookings they expected simply hasn’t materialized.

The World Cup was once described by city leaders as “104 Super Bowls.” Seventy-eight of those matches are in the U.S., with seven taking place in Houston. But hotel operators say occupancy levels are nowhere near what seven Super Bowls would actually look like.

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