Mexico City International Airport (AICM) faces the need for a significant investment of at least 3 billion pesos to renew the image of its two terminals and carry out major maintenance work, with the goal of being ready for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This investment is vital considering that AICM only has 10 percent of what it generates from the TUA to cover its operational and maintenance costs.
The renovation works, expected to be completed by the first half of 2026, will be presented in an image renovation contest called by the Secretariat of the Navy, which is responsible for the country's most important airport. The works will include the design of spaces in both terminals, especially waiting and migration areas, among other airport elements. This investment represents double the resources received through the budget this year.
During the last decade, the conditions of AICM have deteriorated significantly, particularly after the government of Enrique Peña Nieto considered closing the airport, expecting Texcoco to start operating in 2024. In light of this situation, investment in the maintenance of 'Benito Juárez' stopped for at least four years. Subsequently, with the cancellation of the project in Texcoco, AICM had to deal with the deterioration of its facilities, reaching its lowest point in structural and service terms during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Although AICM has the capacity to generate its own resources, more than 90 percent of its income is assigned to a trust to pay the interest on bonds issued internationally, which has generated a current liability of over 3.7 billion dollars. This complex financial situation limits the availability of funds to invest in the necessary maintenance and improvements of the airport, which also requires allocating resources to pay off debts incurred from canceled projects, such as the Texcoco airport.
In other news, the Azteca Stadium, located in Mexico City, will be one of the three venues in the country for the FIFA World Cup 2026. It is expected to host the opening match of the Mexican National Team, as well as other group stage matches. Other selected stadiums for this event are Akron, in Jalisco, and BBVA, in Monterrey, Nuevo León. There is also the possibility that Mexico will host playoff matches for the qualification of other countries, a request made by the Mexican Football Federation.
