Mexico City Gears Up for 2026 World Cup Opener, Over Five Million Expected

Mexico City is bracing for a massive influx of over five million visitors as it prepares to host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, authorities announced on Wednesday.

The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, marks the first time the World Cup will be staged across three countries. Mexico will host matches in three cities: the capital, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said preparations were underway to ensure a safe and seamless experience for fans and tourists. “More than five million people are expected to arrive” in Mexico City alone, she noted. The capital, which is home to around nine million people and sits more than 2,200 metres above sea level, will also be the site of the tournament’s opening match on June 11.

The iconic Azteca Stadium, which previously hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986, is undergoing renovations to be ready for the event. The stadium’s general director, Félix Aguirre, confirmed that over $100 million is being invested in upgrades and assured that it will be ready in time. However, the renovation stirred controversy after the venue was renamed in honour of the bank financing the project. Due to FIFA’s strict rules on branding, the stadium will be officially referred to as “Mexico City Stadium” during the tournament.

Security has also become a major focus. Mayor Clara Brugada announced that the city will install an additional 40,000 surveillance cameras, increasing the total to 123,000. “We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas,” she declared.

FIFA officials and local organisers are also urging fans to ensure the tournament is free from discrimination. The call comes amid repeated sanctions against Mexico over homophobic chants by supporters during previous international matches.

Mexico City is bracing for a massive influx of over five million visitors as it prepares to host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, authorities announced on Wednesday.

The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, marks the first time the World Cup will be staged across three countries. Mexico will host matches in three cities: the capital, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.

Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodríguez said preparations were underway to ensure a safe and seamless experience for fans and tourists. “More than five million people are expected to arrive” in Mexico City alone, she noted. The capital, which is home to around nine million people and sits more than 2,200 metres above sea level, will also be the site of the tournament’s opening match on June 11.

The iconic Azteca Stadium, which previously hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986, is undergoing renovations to be ready for the event. The stadium’s general director, Félix Aguirre, confirmed that over $100 million is being invested in upgrades and assured that it will be ready in time. However, the renovation stirred controversy after the venue was renamed in honour of the bank financing the project. Due to FIFA’s strict rules on branding, the stadium will be officially referred to as “Mexico City Stadium” during the tournament.

Security has also become a major focus. Mayor Clara Brugada announced that the city will install an additional 40,000 surveillance cameras, increasing the total to 123,000. “We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas,” she declared.

FIFA officials and local organisers are also urging fans to ensure the tournament is free from discrimination. The call comes amid repeated sanctions against Mexico over homophobic chants by supporters during previous international matches.