Mexican officials remain optimistic about the potential long-term tourism boost from the World Cup, despite skepticism from some critics. The hope is to elevate Mexico to the rank of the world’s fifth most-visited country.
Currently, the five most-visited countries are France, Spain, the United States, Italy, and Turkey. Mexico, sitting at sixth place, already has a growing reputation as a tourism leader. Authorities believe that soccer and geopolitical factors could propel it into the top five.
President Claudia Sheinbaum aims to achieve this ambitious goal by the end of her term in 2030. The World Cup, which is the largest in history with 104 games and 48 countries participating, is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament’s final game will be held in Mexico City between the national teams of Mexico and England.
Before the tournament commenced, officials projected around 5.5 million visitors to Mexico during the six-week event. This influx is expected to generate billions in economic activity. While some are skeptical of these figures, Mexico has made travel simpler for citizens from certain countries, aligning with the World Cup strategy. With President Trump’s stringent immigration policies potentially discouraging travel to the United States, Mexico offers an alternative destination.
Gabriela Cuevas, Mexico’s World Cup representative, emphasized their welcoming stance, noting, “Mexico maintains its position of being a friendly country to the world.”
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