Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey will welcome thousands of visitors ready to experience the comradery of fandom and the unique tourism offerings of the three World Cup venue.

 

Moscow, Russia, June 13, 2018. For the third time in history, Mexico will open its doors to soccer fans from all over to celebrate the FIFA 2026 World Cup. Mexico will host the 2026 tournament together with its neighbors United States of America and Canada. 

This will be the first time 48 teams play 80 matches in a World Cup, making it the largest tournament in history. Mexico will host ten matches in three cities: Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.

In 2026, Mexico will make history by becoming the first country to host three World Cups, following the tournaments of 1970 and 1986. This unique opportunity demonstrates FIFA's confidence in the infrastructure, logistics and quality of service that Mexico has to offer. According to a study conducted by FIFA, the countries of Mexico, United States, and Canada can expect $14.3 billion in revenue as a result.

In addition to Mexico’s passion for the sport and playful party atmosphere, local and international fans will have the opportunity to experience all the tourism attractions that each destination has to offer.  

Named by the New York Times as the best city to visit in 2015, Mexico City is one of the most exciting destinations in the world. Its Historical Center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of culture, colors, and flavors. Mexico City is also a perfect place for history lovers and with a total of 170 museums and 43 galleries, places second only to London in number of museums. Mexican gastronomy is also a top attraction and the cuisine is as complex and varied as the culture itself. From typical street snacks to restaurants ranked among the 50 best internationally, every palate will be satisfied.

Guadalajara is the second largest city in the country and is frequently named as one of the best places to visit in Mexico. Known as the land of tequila and mariachi, it is rich in history and culture where tradition and modernity coexist. Guadalajara’s great cultural wealth and century-old practices, such as charrería and folkloric dances, live harmoniously alongside the city’s more progressive elements such as its impressive modern buildings and technology offerings.

For nature-lovers, Monterrey provides incredible mountainous landscapes, such as the Cerro de la Silla, Cerro de las Mitras and La Sierra Madre. The landscape is also dotted with thermal springs, museums and historical sites, appealing to all types of travelers.  

In recent years, Mexico has gone from being the fifteenth most visited destination in 2013, to the sixth in 2017, which represents a growth of more than 62 percent. The country welcomed 39.3 million tourists last year, an increase of 12 percent when compared to 2016. These numbers include sports lovers who attended world-renowned events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix, NFL, MLB, and NBA games and the Tennis Open in Acapulco.  

The World Cup venues are just a small sample of all that Mexico has to offer. Its cultural richness and history offer a wide variety of unique experiences across multiple destinations. The millions of visitors who return each year, come for the color, magic and surrealism. The diversity of destinations offer sun and beach, romance, adventure, nature, medicine, wellness, LGBT, cruises, culture, gastronomy, luxury travel and high-level sporting events like the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico has something for everyone.

 

For more information, visit our website: www.visitmexico.com and follow VisitMexico on our official social channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media contact: Sarah List This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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 About Mexico

Currently the 6th most visited country in the world (source: UNTWO), Mexico welcomed 39 million visitors in 2017, continuing to outpace the global industry average growth. Mexico also recently unveiled a new global campaign “A World of Its Own”, which represents the next chapter in Mexico’s global tourism positioning and promotion; focusing on the vibrant, multi-faceted experiences that keep visitors coming back to the country and its hundreds of destinations, time and again. Mexico is a country full of rich stories offering diverse, vibrant experiences across its many renown and internationally recognized destinations. The millions of visitors that come back each year enjoy the colorful, magical and, even, surreal aspect of this country that has attracted explorers, artists and philosophers for thousands of years. With a wide diverse of tourism products including sun and beach, romance, adventure and nature, medical and wellness, LGBT, cruises, culture, high-impact events, luxury, sustainability and gastronomy; the question for travelers is not ‘should you visit Mexico?’ but instead ‘how far will you go?’