FIFA Cancels Thousands Of World Cup Hotel Bookings In Philadelphia: Reports

PHILADELPHIA — FIFA has canceled thousands of hotel bookings in Philadelphia and other host cities just months before the World Cup, according to reports.

Philadelphia will host six World Cup matches, including a Round of 16 contest on the nation's 250th anniversary.

FIFA, the tournament's governing body, reserves hotel rooms for staff, media and attendees in host cities ahead of each World Cup. With the tournament three months away, FIFA has canceled 2,000 of its 10,000 hotel room reservations in Philadelphia, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer and 6abc Action News.

The hotel rollback is happening in other host cities, according to Forbes. Forty-percent of FIFA bookings in Mexico City were also canceled, Mexico News Daily reported earlier this month.

A FIFA spokesperson told the Inquirer that the soccer governing body has exercised similar opt-out clauses at prior World Cups. FIFA adjusts hotel bookings closer to the tournament, when attendance numbers become clearer, the spokesperson said.

World Cup matches will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 5 million fans are expected to attend matches in the 16 host cities.

But immigration and travel policies have complicated matters for international fans hoping to attend, according to The Forum, a coalition of immigrant-advocacy groups.

"The 2026 FIFA World Cup offers the United States an opportunity to host an event of unprecedented global scale," says The Forum. "The current travel restrictions introduce legal, logistical, and economic challenges that might affect participation and attendance."

From June 14-27, Philadelphia will host five matches in the Group Stage, when World Cup teams compete in randomly assigned groups. The top two in each group — 32 overall — will advance to the single-elimination Knockout Stage.

Philly will host a Round of 16 match at 5 p.m. July 4. The matches take place at Lincoln Financial Field.