President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo officially presented the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico, a historic event that will once again make the country the host of the opening of the world’s most important soccer tournament.
With enthusiasm and national pride, Sheinbaum announced that Mexico will welcome more than 5.5 million visitors and experience a “significant economic boost” during the event.
“Mexico will once again show the world who we are: a country of immense cultural greatness, proud of its roots, its present, and its future,” declared the President, emphasizing that the nation is ready to host the World Cup and ensure a safe and unforgettable experience.
During the presentation event, Sheinbaum recalled that this will be the third time that Mexico City hosts a World Cup inauguration, and confirmed that 13 matches will be played in the three national venues: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
The international airports of these cities, along with the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), will serve as the main gateways for fans from around the world.
The President also announced that, by the start of the tournament, the passenger train connecting AIFA to the Buenavista station near downtown Mexico City will be in operation, facilitating transportation between the airport and the capital’s hotel districts.
Sheinbaum introduced the “Social Mini-World Cup”, a national program accompanying the FIFA World Cup with the construction of sports fields and the organization of tournaments for children, youth, seniors, and people with disabilities, as well as FIFA Fests in the three Mexican host cities.
“This will be the people’s World Cup, a World Cup of inclusion and national pride,” said Sheinbaum, highlighting that Mexico combines public and private investment —such as the renovation of the Estadio Azteca stadium— to guarantee an exemplary organization.
Minister of the Interior Rosa Icela Rodríguez emphasized that the World Cup will promote a public agenda with activities that transcend generations, while Jürgen Maika Ruiz, Executive Director of FIFA Mexico, estimated that the tournament will reach an audience of more than 6 billion viewers and bring together 800,000 fans in Mexican stadiums.
Gabriela Cuevas, Federal Government Coordinator for the World Cup, outlined the main areas of pending work, which includes modernizing airports and highways, streamlined immigration procedures, and the participation of Mexican volunteers, who will make up 90% of the organizing team. In addition, 17 Mexican sports facilities have been included in FIFA’s catalog as world-class training centers.
The Mexican government, in coordination with state authorities and the private sector, will organize “Mexico 2026 Celebrations”, featuring public match screenings and free cultural and sports activities, “to make this World Cup truly the people’s event.”
The ceremony concluded with a vibrant freestyle football performance, where players showcased acrobatic tricks to the rhythm of Mexican regional music, celebrating the beginning of Mexico’s journey toward the FIFA World Cup 2026, when the country will once again shine before the world as host and protagonist.
Related: World Cup 2026: Soccer, Passion and Millions at Stake for Mexico
Mexican Press Agency is part of ALMA, which is dedicated to news and information about Mexico and Mexicans in the United States and is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Focus, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Redwood City, California.
