Mérida is aiming to become an attractive destination for international fans traveling to Mexico during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Although the Yucatecan capital will not be an official host city, the City Council is working on a comprehensive strategy to attract a portion of the estimated 5.5 million tourists who, according to the Ministry of Tourism, will travel between the three host countries: Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Armando Casares Espinosa, technical secretary of the Mérida City Council’s Tourism Unit, emphasized that the city is preparing with various initiatives to position itself as a must-see stop for fans traveling between the Mexican venues, with the potential to attract up to 200,000 tourists.
“Mérida has a significant advantage. Of the three football venues in the country—Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey—we have direct flights to all of them. This puts us in a privileged position to attract visitors who, between matches, will have up to seven days off,” he stated.
He said the City Council is awaiting the World Cup group draw on December 6th to identify which teams will play in each venue and coordinate with delegations, agencies, and international tour operators.
Casares explained the market potential: with 2% of the total flow, Mérida would attract 100,000 tourists; with 3%, it would reach 150,000; and with a target of 4%, the city could receive up to 200,000 visitors during the 45 days of the tournament.
“This is a highly valuable clientele for Mérida. We have to take advantage of the fact that the World Cup will be held on our continent and that the opening match will be in Mexico City,” he pointed out.
The Mexico City tourism official confirmed that they are working in coordination with hoteliers, airlines, and tour operators to develop a comprehensive strategy.
“We are working with everyone: hotels, airlines, tour operators. We will also have billboards at the airports in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey,” he stated.
Finally, he emphasized that they already have a timeline that begins on December 6, 2025, with the World Cup draw, and ends on June 11, 2026. “Mérida is positioning itself as a safe city, with a solid cultural offering and world-class attractions that can be enjoyed by those seeking rest and experiences between World Cup matches,” he pointed out.
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Source: sipse
