FIFA PARTNERS WITH MARRIOTT AS HOTEL PARTNER FOR 2026 WORLD CUP

 January 8 – Marriott Bonvoy has been announced as the Official Hotel Supporter in North America of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the tournament comes to the region for the first time in more than three decades.

With matches spread across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the scale of the tournament is massive, and Marriott Bonvoy plans to meet that moment by turning its hotel empire into a home base for fans as they follow their countries across borders and cities.

Throughout the tournament, Marriott Bonvoy has said that members and guests can expect more than just a room, with the company rolling out immersive hotel experiences, special fan activations, and exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments tied directly to the World Cup.

“For millions, soccer is a shared language, connecting families, communities and cultures across generations,” said Peggy Roe, Chief Customer Officer at Marriott International. “In much the same way, travel shapes who we are, with the connections we create staying with us forever. Through Marriott Bonvoy, travellers gain access to experiences that deepen these bonds, turning meaningful moments into lasting memories for our members.”

Roe added, “The FIFA World Cup 2026 is without question going to be one of those landmark moments for so many people, and as a lifelong travel partner, Marriott Bonvoy will welcome fans throughout this historic tournament with the warmth of our properties and the power of our travel program, showing up as your travel companion every step of the journey.”

“We are delighted to welcome Marriott Bonvoy as our Official Hotel Supporter for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström. He pointed to Marriott’s footprint across all three host nations as a key advantage for the record number of fans expected to travel during June and July.

Marriott Bonvoy will also collaborate with Visa to deliver global customer experiences tied to the tournament. Together, they aim to connect travel, payment, and fandom into a more rewarding journey for supporters wherever they are coming from.

- Inside World Football 

"IT'S SO MENTALLY DRAINING" - JESSICA PEGULA REVEALS WHY SHE REFUSES TO STAY IN SAME HOTEL AS HER FELLOW PLAYERS DURING TOURNAMENTS

Jessica Pegula recently opened up about why she refuses to stay in the same hotel as her fellow players during competitions. The American explained that staying in tournament hotels was a ‘mentally draining’ experience and highlighted how that could affect performance.

Pegula has been competing on the WTA circuit for 15 years now and has risen to the top of the rankings in recent years. The 31-year-old’s 2025 has seen her win the ATX Open and the Charleston Open, while reaching the finals of the Miami Open. Credit to her impressive performances, the tennis star is currently the World No.3.

Recently, in an interview with Tennis.com, Jessica Pegula opened up about how important a proper hotel is to her rise to the top. The American highlighted that being away from her fellow players is one of the main reasons she chooses not to stay in tournament hotels, saying,

“Being away from everyone else is a massive thing for me. I think that’s what maybe sparked this, as well. I just felt like, ‘I can’t do [player hotels] anymore!’

Explaining her decision, Pegula added that constantly being around the people you work with can be draining.ment hotels, saying,

“When you’re staying at a tournament hotel, I feel like it’s so mentally draining. It’s not like anyone is a problem. But if you were going to work with someone, you wouldn’t necessarily want to eat breakfast with them, practice with them, be in the gym, have lunch, go to the locker room and the physio room with them, and then see them in all the elevators and the hallways.”

“I don’t think people realize that shouldn’t happen, not with the people you’re working and competing with every single week. We play pretty much every week together, and so, all of that together, you’re ready to lose it,” she added.

Earlier this year, Pegula signed with World of Hyatt as their ambassador, and has since opted to stay with the luxury hotel brand while competing.

On the tennis end of things, Jessica Pegula is currently competing at the Bad Homburg Open. The American began her grass courts season earlier this month at the Berlin Open, where she failed to defend her title after a second round exit against Liudmila Samsonova.

Recovering from that loss, Pegula got her campaign in German off to a strong start as she claimed a 6-2, 6-3 win over Kateřina Siniaková in her round of 16 match.

Up next, Jessica Pegula will take on compatriot Emma Navarro in her quarterfinals clash at the Homburg Open. The duo last played each other at the 2024 Miami Open, where Pegula emerged victorious in straight sets.

- Riddhi Acharya