Key Takeaways

  • Airbnb opened free World Cup exhibition in Mexico City with 600 resident-donated objects running May 30 through July 26.
  • Platform launched Hugo Sánchez guided experience including World Cup tickets to drive bookings ahead of June 11 opening.
  • Initiative targets tourism growth in Mexico City where three homes convert to Airbnb every 48 hours.

The World Cup is still weeks away, but Mexico City is already putting its soccer obsession on full display.

Ahead of the first kickoff, Airbnb is launching a free community-powered exhibition featuring nearly 600 soccer objects donated by local residents.

The move is part of a broader tourism push ahead of the tournament’s June 11 opening match.

The exhibit opens May 30 and runs through July 26.

The exhibition, titled “Collective Memory of the FIFA World Cup,” is housed in the historic Inter-American Conference on Social Security building where Pelé and the Brazilian team stayed during the 1970 World Cup, according to an Airbnb announcement.

During the exhibition, World Cup fans can visit Room One, where Pelé slept before the 1970 final.

The partnership between Airbnb, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Mexico City Host Committee, and Mexico City’s Tourism Promotion Fund marks the platform’s latest effort to drive World Cup bookings in Mexico.

The exhibition honors tournaments from 1970, 1986, and the 1971 Women’s World Cup.

Hugo Sánchez experience targets fan traffic

Airbnb is also launching a one-time guided tour experience with Mexican football legend Hugo Sánchez on June 4, which includes behind-the-scenes exhibition access, a tour of Pumas UNAM’s La Cantera training facility where his career began, and FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets to watch Mexico play. Bookings open May 28 for up to ten guests.

“With the World Cup around the corner, I’m excited to be an Airbnb host once again offering an experience for fans who live football with the same passion that I have. It will be an opportunity to revisit some of the places that have shaped my story in Mexico City. For me, football is about sharing, connecting, and creating memories that last forever with our community,” said Sánchez said in a statement.

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“The World Cup is one of the rare moments when the whole world feels connected. That belief in bringing people together is at the heart of Airbnb. This partnership celebrates Mexico’s football legacy, while also bringing together local communities around a shared passion for the World Cup and its history.”Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said in a news release.

The initiative is part of the platform giant’s Host City Impact Program, designed to boost economic growth and strengthen Airbnb’s presence in tournament markets.

With Mexico City converting three homes to Airbnb every 48 hours, operators near the stadium could see booking surges as exhibition traffic builds through July.