Mexico Hosts 13 World Cup Matches Starting 11 June

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June, and Mexico is one of three host nations, staging 13 matches across Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey through 5 July. With the Mexican government forecasting more than 5.5 million visitors during the tournament period, anyone travelling to any of these cities — or using them as transit points — needs to account for significantly heavier crowds, inflated accommodation costs and tighter security protocols.

Mexico City hosts matches at the iconic Estadio Azteca, one of the world’s most storied football venues. It is also the country’s main international hub, meaning match days at the Azteca will ripple across hotels, restaurants and public transport citywide. Book accommodation as far in advance as possible; rates near the stadium and in Polanco, Roma and Condesa are already climbing sharply.

Guadalajara stages its group-stage matches at Estadio Akron. The city is the gateway to the tequila highlands and Mexico’s colonial heartland, and visitors combining a match with broader Jalisco travel should note that the U.S. State Department has issued a Level 3 advisory for Jalisco — exercise caution and check your government’s current guidance before booking. Monterrey hosts games at Estadio BBVA; the city’s proximity to the U.S. border makes it popular with North American fans arriving overland from Texas.

For travellers not attending matches, the tournament will still affect travel. Cancún is positioned as a logistical hub for visiting fans, with organisers expecting transit traffic through its international airport to surge. Accommodation across the Riviera Maya is filling quickly for the June–July window. Domestic flights between host cities are in high demand — book ahead and check airline change policies.

The U.S. State Department updated Mexico’s overall advisory to Level 2 (exercise increased caution) in late May 2026, citing crime and kidnapping. Standard precautions apply: use official radio-dispatched taxis or app-based rides such as Uber, keep copies of travel documents and register with your embassy’s traveller notification service.

Mexico requires no visa for most nationalities for stays up to 180 days. A DNR visitor permit (MXN 983) applies on arrival; many airlines include this fee in the ticket price. No additional entry requirements have been introduced for the World Cup period.