Mexico sees 90% drop in World Cup tourism versus government forecasts

Independent analysis by Deloitte shows that the 2026 FIFA World Cup attracted only about 500,000 extra visitors to Mexico, roughly 10% of the 5 million target promoted by officials. The visitors comprised 198,000 foreign tourists and 296,000 domestic travelers. Hotel occupancy fell sharply in Mexico City, down 56% from the same period last year, and Guadalajara also saw declines, while Monterrey recorded a 64% increase.

The tournament generated an estimated economic spill‑over of US$2.5 billion, comparable to just half a month of Mexico’s annual remittances. Outside the tourism figures, FIFA’s preliminary balance reports that fans consumed more than 4.6 million soft drinks, 5.5 million beers and 675,000 hot‑dogs during the 104 matches. Fan festivals attracted over nine million visitors, and the event drew 6.8 million spectators to stadiums, culminating in Spain’s second World Cup title.