The FIFA World Cup 2026 will not only bring fans and international attention to Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey—the three host cities—but it is also detonating an unprecedented expansion in video surveillance: more cameras, more monitoring, and in some cases, robotic technology on the streets.
Under this World Cup security strategy, video surveillance in Mexico's three largest cities has increased by 50%—according to data from Kabat One— as authorities seek to deter street robberies, public transport theft, and auto part theft. Crimes that have already reached nearly 10,288 victims in the country only during the first months of this year, according to data from the National Public Security System Executive Secretariat (SESNSP).
In an interview with Publimetro, Mauricio Swain, Chief Revenue Officer of the firm, mentioned that the country—in terms of security infrastructure—is ready to host the FIFA World Cup, but stressed that coordination between authorities will be a priority to achieve results.
«Cameras can be a deterrent and generate confidence among nationals and tourists. But what is important is that there is a real reaction and prevention, because if there is no action behind it, the positive perception is lost,» he commented.
Which host city will have the most cameras?
According to the company's data, Mexico City has been the host city that increased its video surveillance the most, registering a 40% increase—mainly in tourist corridors, the Metro, and hotel zones— as the authority seeks 120,000 cameras throughout the city.
In contrast, the city of Monterrey had an abysmal increase in its video surveillance, going from about 4,000 to 7,000 cameras—a 75% increase— which were placed at the Akron Stadium, light rail, and training venues.
Additionally, recently in the Monterrey metropolitan area—the local authority— announced that they will use robotic dogs for surveillance tasks in stadiums and high-traffic areas, as well as hard-to-reach zones.
«It is viable, but it does not replace the human factor. Today many systems operate in isolation, and that limits their effectiveness».
Mauricio Swain, Chief Revenue Officer.
Technological interoperability is needed for systems to communicate with each other, artificial intelligence applied to video, and strengthening command centers.
How will the robotic World Cup dogs work?
In the municipality of Guadalupe, Nuevo León, four robotic dogs will be in charge of performing monitoring and emergency response tasks during the World Cup matches held in the state.
Thus, the K9–X unit will be able to identify unusual crowds—due to the modality of group theft— while detecting unusual behavior in people and immediately alerting the municipal government's operational areas.
Data: What are the most common thefts in Mexico?
According to data from the National Public Security System Executive Secretariat, in the first months of 2026, more than 10,000 crimes have been committed:
Auto parts theft — 2,633 cases Pedestrian robbery in a public thoroughfare — 6,495 cases Public transport robbery — 1,160 cases
