President Claudia Sheinbaum, alongside FIFA, confirmed that next July 11th, Mexico will host the World Cup opening ceremony. Matches will also be held in the United States and Canada, and this morning, they presented the work leading up to this historic event.
During her morning press conference, held this Monday at the Los Pinos cultural venue and focused exclusively on World Cup matters, the president highlighted the opportunities that hosting the event once again will bring for Mexico, especially in the context of commercial ties with its northern partners.
"It will be a moment to recognize the friendship and union among the three peoples, and also to recognize the importance of our trade agreement," the president emphasized.
The decision to have Mexico host the opening has been a subject of debate due to the local context on various occasions. However, FIFA's Executive Director in Mexico, Jürgen Mainka, and Sheinbaum jointly assured that there was never any doubt that the event would take place in the country.
"The decision to have the opening in Mexico was very logical, as it is the only one of the three countries in the bid that has hosted the World Cup before and has the deepest history with three tournaments. This decision was announced when the calendar was set and was never in question," said Jürgen.
The execution of events in CDMX reinforces Trump's lobbying in FIFA to move the opening to the US.
When questioned about security concerns, the executive also detailed that FIFA has been working with the federal government for three years.
"Regarding security, we are very confident that the protocols and plans implemented for the World Cup will provide the necessary security margin for 2026," he said.
Meanwhile, Gabriela Cuevas detailed that Mexico will host 13 matches distributed among Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. It is expected to attract 5.5 million visitors to the country and generate an economic impact of $1.8 to $3 billion.
Additionally, she mentioned that the government will seek to hold sporting events in all of the country's states and also noted the collaborative actions between different levels of government on security matters.
Sheinbaum added that work is underway on various infrastructure projects that will be ready for the World Cup, including the remodeling of AICM at a cost of 9 billion pesos and the passenger train from AIFA to Buena Vista.
"It is an extraordinary moment for the country," she concluded.
