Tag: World Cup 2026

 
GOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!

If this sound is still ringing in your head, you certainly got a healthy dose of the World Cup 2022, which just wrapped in Qatar with a historical win for Argentina and its superstar Lionel Messi. While watching from Miami was a load of fun and that is all fine and good, this is a real estate blog. As Miami is one of the host cities for the 2026 World Cup, we naturally want to know what to expect in our real estate values, so here is what we found.

Hosting any worldwide event is bound to have a positive effect on the business climate in the hosting city and surrounding areas, but the FIFA World Cup is different than the others in several ways. For starters, the World Cup takes place every four years rather than annually. This makes the anticipation build, gives the marketplace additional preparation time and extends the effects to the business climate of the area after the event. Hosting the Super Bowl does bring a hefty amount of attention to an area, but nothing like the world’s stage that the Copa Mundial puts you on.

Additionally, the World Cup does not take place in just one city the way the Olympics does. The games are spread across several different regions in the area. The 2026 event is unique in that it will be hosted not only by different cities, but also will be spread between three different countries! Matches will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“Leading up to the World Cup, there was an increase in demand for properties that are suited for the hosting of the influx of soccer fans, their family and friends,” Craig Hutchinson, CEO of Engel & Völkers South Africa, told Mansion Global recently. The 2010 World Cup was held across nine cities in South Africa, including Johannesburg, leading to “a lot of tourists who ordinarily wouldn’t have traveled to South Africa experiencing the country for the first time.”

Anticipated Effects To Real Estate

No matter who wins the cup, developers and property owners are poised to realize hefty sales prices, particularly in cities that are ideal for vacation homes and tourism even during down seasons. Here is a list of reasons that we believe Miami will reign supreme during and after the 2026 World Cup.

Availability of Short Term Rentals – According to Mr. Hutchinson, the properties that were highest in demand were those that were easily converted into AirBnb or other short-term rentals. This was due to the fact that the majority of the international buyers who made investments did so on vacation or second homes.

Given the new wave of development in Miami for luxury condos with the added flexibility of using the short-term rental platforms, we expect to see a higher demand in buildings such as Natiivo, E11even Hotel and Residences Downtown Miami, along with other buildings that are currently in the conceptual phase, but will be ready for market by the time the games begin.

Lifestyle – While each of the cities hosting the 2026 World Cup was chosen for a reason, none of them really knows how to host a celebration the way that Miami hosts a celebration. We host parties like it’s our job, and it sort of is. Just look at the glamour and gradeur of the Miami Grand Prix, annual Art Basel events, Miami Music Week/ULTRA and any of the other international festivals and parties that take place in the 305. Miami throws a party, and we do it well.

Climate – Nobody wants to buy a vacation home in a dingy, dreary climate. If you’re getting away to unwind, you want sunshine, sand, and clean air. This is something Miami is plentiful in, far more so than any of the other 2026 host cities.

Of course we cannot offer mountains or snow, but that is something that can be obtained farther north and there is enough business to go around.

Culture – Of the list of host cities, none compares to Miami when it comes to culture. Considered the South American capital of the US, Miami has thriving communities of people from across the globe. We are a true melting pot, capable of making people feel at home while also offering a host of other cultural experiences.

Ease of Access – With over 1,000 daily flights to almost 200 domestic and international destinations, the Miami International Airport is nothing to bat an eye to. In 2021 it was named the busiest US gateway to international passengers, surpassing New York’s JFK airport that has held the honor for decades. Over 17.5 million passengers make their way through the airport each year and Miami-Dade is planning for the future. They have recently passed a $5 billion improvement and expansion plan that will be executed over the next 15 years.

In his interview to Mansion Global, Mr. Hutchinson mentioned that, “There was no evidence of an increase in demand of international property buyers directly after the soccer World Cup, but what we did notice was an increase of international buyers approximately three years after the hosting of the World Cup.”

This delayed effect was attributed to the visitors who discovered the South African lifestyle during the World Cup eventually committing to purchasing properties in popular tourist and second-home areas.

Considering all of these attributes and what Miami has to offer, we will set our ducks in a row in anticipation of our time to shine in 2026.

If you are interested in a private presentation of vacation or second homes that allow short-term and/or AirBnb hosting, please contact Michael Light, Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael directly at (786) 566-1700 or via email at michael@miamiluxuryhomes.com.