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Mexico
Nation / PlaceMX

Mexico

North American federal republic of 130 million; World Cup co-host and key Cuba energy/migration partner.

Mexico's World Cup ended in the round of 16 on 5 July, beaten 3-2 by England at the Azteca after finishing top of Group A, closing out the country's third turn as host since 1970 alongside Plan Kukulkan's 100,000-strong federal security deployment.

Last refreshed: 21 July 2026 · Appears in 4 active topics

Key Question

How will Mexico's energy and migration ties with Cuba evolve after the World Cup ends?

Timeline for Mexico

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Background

Mexico is a federal republic under President Claudia Sheinbaum, co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with the United States and Canada across three cities: Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, Guadalajara's Estadio Akron and Monterrey's BBVA Stadium. It is the country's third time hosting the tournament, after 1970 and 1986.

The country's security apparatus operates against a backdrop of organised-crime violence and a disappearance crisis: families of more than 130,000 missing people are a recurring presence at national protests, including at the Zocalo during the World Cup opener. Federal deployments running to tens of thousands of personnel, under operations such as Plan Kukulkan, have become Mexico's standard response to major security tests, from cartel violence to mass sporting events.

Mexico's Foreign Policy sits inside its deep USMCA integration with the United States and Canada and extends into regional energy diplomacy: Mexican crude has historically featured among Cuba's external fuel sources, making Mexico's compliance with US sanctions policy a factor in the island's energy security.

Key Issues
World Cup campaign

England ends Mexico's home World Cup

Mexico deployed Plan Kukulkan, a federal security operation that eventually ran to roughly 100,000 personnel, ahead of hosting the World Cup for a third time since 1970. The team finished Group A on a perfect nine points, beating Czechia 3-0 in Guadalajara on 24 June to become the only side in the tournament to win all three group games .

The run ended on 5 July, when Jude Bellingham struck twice inside 98 seconds to send England through 3-2 at the Azteca , leaving the United States as the tournament's last standing co-host and closing out Mexico's third home World Cup without reaching a quarter-final for the first time since 1986.

Security trade-off

Cartel violence tests Mexico's security

CJNG cartel violence killed at least 70 people in February, prompting Mexico's federal government to launch Plan Kukulkan, a World Cup security operation that eventually deployed up to 100,000 personnel across the tournament's three host cities. On 8 July that resourcing choice came under national scrutiny when a rival cartel, La Nueva Familia Michoacana, struck the Guerrero village of Guajes de Ayala from the air, displacing roughly 70 residents while the bulk of federal manpower sat in Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara .

Security analyst David Saucedo told national media the strike exposed a strategy built around stadiums and fan zones rather than rural policing, and the episode became a touchstone in the capital's press for the wider question of who Plan Kukulkan was actually protecting.

Cuba oil cutoff

Mexico halts a crude export line

Mexican crude shipments that had backstopped Cuba's thermal power fleet stopped within days of President Trump signing Executive Order 14380 on 29 January, which declared a national emergency over Cuba and threatened secondary tariffs on any country supplying the island's oil . Tariff exposure, not a formal embargo, forced Mexico's hand.

Cuba's energy minister confirmed in May that Venezuelan supply had also stopped, since November 2025, leaving the island dependent on Russian tanker deliveries alone . For Mexico, the episode shows how a single US sanctions order can reshape one of the country's regional energy relationships without any direct bilateral dispute between the two governments.

Common Questions

Reference

Is Mexico still in the 2026 World Cup?
No. Mexico were eliminated in the round of 16 on 5 July 2026, beaten 3-2 by England at the Estadio Azteca, leaving the United States as the last of the three co-hosts still in the tournament.Source: Lowdown 2026 FIFA World Cup
What happened at the Paseo de la Reforma crush in Mexico City?
A crowd crush on Paseo de la Reforma killed four fans on the night of 30 June 2026, hours after Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca. Mexico City tripled security and reinstated a citywide dry law for the following fixture.Source: Lowdown 2026 FIFA World Cup
Which host nations advanced at the 2026 World Cup?
All three co-hosts advanced from the group stage: Mexico, the United States, and Canada all reached the Round of 32 — the first host trio in World Cup history to advance together.Source: FIFA
What is the all-time World Cup attendance record?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup set an all-time tournament record of 3,605,357 across 16 host-city venues, surpassing the 3,587,538 set at the 1994 USA World Cup. Mexico's three sell-out venues contributed to the total.Source: FIFA
What happened to Mexico's residency visa fees in 2026?
One-year temporary residency fees rose 109% from 1 January 2026, affecting long-stay visitors and remote workers.
How many World Cups has Mexico hosted?
Three, in 1970, 1986 and 2026, more than any other nation.
Why did Mexican crude oil stop flowing to Cuba?
Mexico halted crude supply to Cuba in January 2026; Cuba's energy minister confirmed the cutoff publicly in May, leaving the island reliant on Russian deliveries alone.
Who is the president of Mexico?
Claudia Sheinbaum, who has led Mexico since October 2024.
How many World Cup matches has Mexico hosted in 2026?
Mexico hosted group-stage matches across three venues: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. The Azteca hosted the tournament's opening ceremony on 11 June — the third time it has staged a World Cup opening match.
What are Mexico's World Cup venues in 2026?
Mexico's three World Cup venues are Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), Estadio Akron (Guadalajara), and Estadio BBVA (Monterrey). Mexico previously hosted in 1970 and 1986, also at the Azteca.
What happened at Mexico's World Cup opening match?
Mexico kicked off the 2026 World Cup against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June, with the stadium becoming the first to host three World Cup opening matches. The planned fan zone was simultaneously occupied by CNTE teachers and families of the disappeared, forcing Sheinbaum to offer 18 alternative viewing venues.
Will Mexico host Iran's World Cup matches?
No. FIFA rejected Mexico's offer to host Iran's Group G matches on 17 March 2026, maintaining the published schedule despite US travel ban difficulties for Iranian fans.
Is Mexico City safe for the 2026 World Cup?
President Sheinbaum deployed up to 100,000 security forces under Plan Kukulkan after CJNG cartel violence. Guadalajara passed two successive clean security operations in March 2026. Dallas Police established a cross-border policing partnership with Monterrey.
Is Estadio Azteca ready for the World Cup?
Reopened on schedule on 28 March before 84,130 fans for Mexico vs Portugal, after the owner had expressed doubt about meeting deadlines.Source: Update 3
Is there an Airbnb cap in Mexico City?
Mexico City has a 182-night annual STR cap. In April 2026 the city's Congress received a proposal to suspend this cap for the World Cup window of 1 June to 31 August 2026. No vote had been held as of the briefing date.