The excitement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached a fever pitch among millions of football fans all around the world. The world’s biggest sporting event, which will see matches hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is likely to attract a lot of travel to the region, with many fans already beginning to book flights, hotels, and stadium visits. While the excitement mounts, the United States government has reminded amateur fans that they should prepare for the event by doing more than just purchasing tickets to the matches.
The United States Department of State updated their travel advisory for Mexico before the entrance of the tournament. They have advised that individuals travelling to Mexico will need to be aware of the various security issues that may affect them and their safety while they are visiting the country. In particular, many experts believe that the tourism industry will see a large increase during the FIFA World Cup and as a result several areas in Mexico are expected to experience heavy commercial activity.
Not every area of Mexico is equally dangerous for tourists. Certain locations in Mexico are generally more safe than others for tourists to travel. Therefore, what you choose to stay for your visit, as well as how you choose to travel around Mexico will greatly vary the quality of your visit.
One of the primary cities for the World Cup is Mexico City, which is under a Level 2 travel advisory. While this does not prohibit someone from traveling to Mexico City, it does advise increased caution when traveling. Monterrey is under the same Level 2 advisory, and both destinations expect to receive large numbers of soccer fans traveling during the World Cup.
Guadalajara is also a significant World Cup location and primary destination for travelers. However, Guadalajara is located in Jalisco state, which is also classified as a Level 3 travel advisory. There are multiple levels of travel advisory, and Jalisco state falls under a Level 3, which advises travelers to critically assess their intentions to travel to this area before traveling there. The tourism to this area is continuing every day; however, law enforcement believes that there needs to be more awareness and planning before traveling to Guadalajara.
Meanwhile, several states in Mexico have a Level 4 travel advisory; this is the highest level of travel advisory that the United States government issues. These states include Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, and American travelers are advised not to plan to travel to these locations due to the heightened risk to American travelers from crime and security issues.
Traveling at night in a different country to get between two cities poses a risk, and therefore an essential guideline for fans attending the World Cup in Mexico is to not participate in long-distance travel by road at night. Traveling at night is an added potential risk (especially in areas they are not familiar with) to any traveler.
When utilizing taxi services or ride-hailing apps to get from one city to another, only use a taxi service (or ride-hailing app) that is official or trusted, as accepting rides from unknown, unverified taxi drivers poses an added risk to travelers.
When visiting Mexico, it is highly recommended to travel in groups and stay only in areas where there are many people (such as areas with high populations of tourists). Although Mexico is full of beautiful natural places to see and visit, some of the remote areas are not only beautiful, but they also pose additional risk to travelers in the event that something goes wrong.
Cooperation with security checkpoint officials is very important. In many parts of Mexico, there are security checkpoints that law enforcement and the military utilize. Ignoring or attempting to go around security checkpoint procedures could lead to dangerous consequences.
American citizens should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). The service helps U.S. embassies and consulates contact you during an emergency, provides security updates to all enrolled travelers, and makes it easier for U.S. embassies and consulates to help travelers who encounter an unexpected situation.
Mexico is still one of the most popular tourist destinations despite the various advisory notices that it has received from both the U.S. government and the Mexican government. Every year, millions of international visitors to Mexico come to enjoy the country’s diverse culture, delicious food, beautiful beaches, rich history and exciting sporting events. The updated travel advisory is meant to encourage people who want to go to Mexico for tourism purposes make informed decisions.
As we continue to countdown to World Cup 2026, fans that plan on attending matches in Mexico should make sure they are well-informed, actively monitor the latest travel advisories from their respective governments, are familiar with the customs and laws of Mexico, and are thinking about getting travel insurance before they leave home. If you prepare properly now, you can turn an ordinary vacation into a life-changing experience at the World Cup.
World Cup 2026 is going to be an incredibly historic event because three countries are co-hosting and the world is focused on us here in North America, so there will be plenty of reasons for fans to have a good time. While it can be easy to get excited about attending World Cup 2026 (one of the biggest sporting events in the world), fans need to also make sure they balance their excitement with smart travel planning in order to ensure that they have an enjoyable experience at the World Cup.
