Andy Najar (L) of Honduras vies for the ball with Emmanuel Gomez of Nicaragua during the CONCACAF FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier soccer match between Honduras and Nicaragua at the Jose de la Paz Herrera stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on Tuesday. Photo by Gustavo Amador/EPA
Mexico is investing heavily in culture, infrastructure and technology as it prepares to host 13 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tournament expected to draw more than 55.5 million visitors to the country.
Officials project the event will generate about $3 billion for Mexico, create more than 24,000 jobs and showcase the country’s regional diversity. Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey will host matches, including the June 11 opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca, which is undergoing a $175 million renovation to increase capacity to 90,000 seats from 87,500.
Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora said the plan seeks to spread World Cup benefits well beyond the stadiums.
“We want every state to feel part of this global celebration,” she said at the launch event at Punto México. “From the Pueblos Mágicos to archaeological sites and culinary traditions, the World Cup will be a window to all of Mexico.”
Among the initiatives are football tournaments in Pueblos Mágicos, the beautification program Rutas Mágicas de Color and demonstrations of the ancient Mesoamerican ballgame at historic sites.
A gastronomic festival, “Mexico of My Flavors,” will run from June 5 to July 22 in Mexico City, bringing together cuisine, crafts and folk art from all 32 states.
The capital’s mayor, Clara Brugada, pledged that neighborhoods near the stadium will benefit from more than $350 million in investments, including mobility, security and public services.
“The World Cup is not only about football. It’s about improving the lives of residents who live around the venues,” she said.
Guadalajara is expanding its airport, adding a new metro line and renovating its historic center. Monterrey is upgrading public spaces and focusing on environmental improvements as part of a broader urban development plan.
Officials also announced a free app, World Cup-Visit Mexico, to guide fans through transport, weather, gastronomy and events in the three host cities. It is .https://x.com/Claudiashein/status/1961265602502561802
Mexico is not alone in preparing. The United States will host 60 matches, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while Canada will stage 13 games in Vancouver and Toronto.
Canadian carriers have already announced new direct flights connecting Toronto and Montreal with Guadalajara and Mexico City, as well as routes from Vancouver to Mexico.
This will be the first World Cup shared by three countries and the third time Mexico has hosted, after 1970 and 1986. Estadio Azteca will become the only stadium in history to hold three tournament openers.
Officials say the legacy of the 2026 tournament will include renovated stadiums, upgraded airports, urban renewal projects and strengthened cultural tourism.
“Football is passion, but also opportunity,” tourism chief Rodríguez Zamora said. “Our goal is that the world remembers Mexico not only for the matches, but for the richness of its culture and the warmth of its people.”
