Although matches will be played in only three cities, the scope of the strategy is nationwide. Plans include itinerant gastronomic festivals such as “Mexico of My Flavors”, to be held at iconic venues like the Campo Deportivo Militar Marte from June 5 to July 22, featuring cultural, artistic, and artisanal offerings.
In addition, themed tourist routes will be promoted, beautification programs will be carried out in the Pueblos Mágicos, and a national soccer championship among these towns will be launched, with the dual purpose of boosting local tourism and reviving sporting and cultural traditions. The proposal seeks to ensure that all 32 states of the country benefit directly or indirectly from what has been called a “World Cup for all of Mexico”.
On the infrastructure front, Mexico City plans an investment of 3 billion pesos to modernize the Azteca Stadium, which after the tournament will be transformed into an international convention center. Meanwhile, Guadalajara is working on designing new tourist routes to offer more diverse experiences, and Monterrey is advancing a plan focused on infrastructure, security, and reforestation, with an eye on the World Cup and beyond.
The scale of the event—featuring 48 national teams, 104 matches, and the joint participation of three host countries—represents a historic opportunity for Mexico, which will be the only nation to host a World Cup opening match for the third time, following the 1970 and 1986 editions. The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2026, at the Azteca Stadium, with Mexico hosting 13 matches in total, including the much-anticipated opening game.
Beyond stadiums and goals, the Mexican government seeks to ensure that the infrastructure and initiatives developed for the World Cup leave a lasting legacy: durable facilities, strengthened cultural tourism, and a private sector positioned as a strategic ally to multiply the benefits. In the context of steady recovery—where tourism already reached record highs with 45 million international visitors in 2024 and contributed 7–8% to GDP—this strategy further strengthens Mexico’s global projection as one of the world’s leading cultural, historical, and natural destinations.
Mexico’s tourism strategy for the 2026 World Cup is designed to ensure that every corner of the country contributes and thrives: from gastronomic and sporting festivals in the Pueblos Mágicos to the modernization of infrastructure and venues in the host cities. The challenge is monumental, but so is the opportunity: to consolidate Mexico as a cultural and tourism powerhouse that transcends the limits of the tournament, leaving a vibrant, enduring, and shared legacy across the nation.
