Mexico City to renovate its airport for World Cup 2026

MEXICO CITY - Mexico will invest US$386 million in the remodeling of the country's main airport in preparation for the next World Cup in 2026, where it will share the venue with the United States and Canada, the government announced.

"The works at Mexico City's Benito Juarez airport, which has two terminals and served 45.4 million passengers in 2024, include its aesthetic and functional restoration, in addition to maintenance work," explained Juan José Padilla, director of the public company that manages it.

The refurbishment is part of the logistical plan to receive the participating teams and tourists who will attend the 2026 World Cup, in which Mexico will host 13 matches, and which includes three other air terminals in the center of the country.

“Mexico City Airport and the airports of Toluca and Cuernavaca were considered, along with Felipe Angeles International Airport, strategic airports during the 2026 World Cup. We proudly call them FIFA airports,” Padilla detailed, during President Claudia Sheinbaum's press conference.

The official added that the works will be carried out from next April until May 2026 and include the participation of private companies contracted via tender.

The designated cities for the 13 World Cup games are Mexico City, Guadalajara (west) and Monterrey (northeast). The opening game, scheduled for June 11, 2026, will be played at the Azteca Stadium in the Mexican capital.