Sectur forecasts a $1 billion investment from the 2026 World Cup

Alonso Urrutia and Laura Poy

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 14, 2025, p. a10

The World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada—to be held in June and July 2026—could generate $1 billion in revenue for the country over the 24 days it will be held on national soil, according to estimates by Tourism Secretary Josefina Rodríguez. To boost revenue, efforts will be made to link tourism arriving at the three World Cup venues—Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey—with other destinations and to organize various activities related to the event.

Rodríguez said that projections indicate a 44 percent increase in tourist arrivals from those who regularly come to Mexico during that period. The agency anticipates that 5.5 million visitors will arrive to watch the World Cup, and that their average spending will increase by 48 percent. Other estimates include the creation of 24,000 direct jobs and a 49 percent increase in restaurant consumption.

"How will we do it? We already have 30 World Cup routes, both local and national, which wholesale agencies are familiar with and will sell, and this way we can diversify our tourist base. The Secretariat emphasized that the goal is that, with what our visitors experience, they will go home saying, 'I want to return to Mexico because, from the moment I arrived at the airport, I felt the warmth of its people, its hospitality.'"

Mexico of my flavors

During the presidential conference, the Ministry of Tourism announced that it wants to bring the World Cup not only to the 32 states, but also to all 177 Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns). To this end, several specific activities will be carried out, including the México de mis sabores festival, which, for the first time, will showcase the full grandeur of our country. It will take place from June 5 to July 22 at Campo Marte, with 32 states present .

Finally, he indicated that a phone app will be designed to make it easier for tourists to visit: how to get there, the weather; what to eat, what not to eat; typical dishes; and where the venues will be able to post all their information, including transportation, health, Profeco, and everything each of the venues is doing. They have major plans, not only for transportation, but also for green areas and recreation. The World Cup routes will be derived from these initiatives.

▲ Daniel Villalobos adds another medal to his record in the series, where he has accumulated five medals after having obtained two silvers and a bronze in Markham, Canada, as well as a third place in Somabay, Egypt. Photo AFP

From the Editorial Staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 14, 2025, p. a11

Diego Villalobos executes underwater movements that exude elegance, precision, and emotion, characteristics that have propelled him to the elite of artistic swimming. The tricolor added another medal to his distinguished career by winning gold in the men's individual technical routine superfinal at the Xi'an World Cup in China.

This is Villalobos' first gold medal in the series, in which he has accumulated five medals after having obtained two silver and a bronze in Markham, Canada, and a bronze in Somabay, Egypt.

"I'm very proud. I feel very happy with my work, with my performance, and it was a very, very nice routine for me ," Villalobos, who at just 20 years old is already emerging as one of the leading talents in international artistic swimming, told the World Aquatics website.

When the Chinese representative was expected to prevail at home, Villalobos entered the pool second to last on the list to surprise the judges and fans with a clean and emotional routine.

The Mexican won with 225.0841 points, just over one point ahead of China's Muye Guo, who arrived as the favorite and faced the pressure of winning in front of his home crowd. Guo had to settle for silver after scoring 224.04 points. Britain's Ranjou Tomblin also secured a spot on the podium with bronze with a score of 220.8334.

The gold medal Villalobos is now celebrating places him as one of the favorites in the individual artistic swimming competition for the upcoming World Championships in Singapore, which will take place from July 11 to August 3.

Villalobos has already gained international recognition with her performances in the mixed duet routine, having won silver at the 2023 Fukuoka World Championships and two bronze medals at the 2024 Doha edition.

In the women's duet technical routine at the Xi'an World Cup, fellow tricolors Itzamary González and María Fernanda Arallano were just a step away from the podium, finishing in fourth place with 267.2532 points.

The gold went to the representatives of China Yanjun Lin and Huiyan Xu, who obtained 289.6150 points, while Japan (281.4309) won the silver and Spain took the bronze with 277.8075 points.

The World Cup competitions will continue this weekend with team events, in which the Mexican undines will also compete.

AFP

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 14, 2025, p. a11

Paris. Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar soloed yesterday's sixth stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné in Combloux, reclaiming the yellow jersey , putting himself in an ideal position to fight for the overall victory.

I'm very happy to be back in yellow. It's been a great day for us. I'm getting good responses in this Dauphiné , said Pogacar, who already led this race after winning the first stage last Sunday in Montluçon.

With this 97th career victory, Pogacar, who beat the Dane Jonas Vingegaard by one minute and one second (1:01), became the active runner with the most victories, tied with the 33-year-old French sprinter Arnaud Demare.

Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who arrived as the leader in the general classification on Friday, finished the stage in fifth place, 1 minute and 50 seconds behind.

In the standings, Pogacar now has a 43-second lead over Vingegaard, 54 over German Florian Lipowitz, and 1:22 over Evenepoel.

Yesterday, in the first of three mountain stages and on a sweltering day, Pogacar took revenge on Vinge-gaard on the Domancy climb, where the Dane beat him in a time trial at the 2023 Tour de France.

Pogacar accelerated seven kilometers from the finish line and distanced himself from the rest. Only Vingegaard managed to follow him for a few meters before giving up on the hellish pace set by the Slovenian.

The Slovenian dispels doubts

With this great victory, his ninth of 2025, Pogacar dispels the slight doubts generated by his disappointing time trial on Wednesday, in which he had been beaten by Evenepoel and Vinge-gaard, his two main rivals for the Tour (July 5-27).

I wasn't too stressed after the time trial because I feel fit , Pogacar said.

It's true that losing time that day bothered me, and improving in the time trial is a challenge for me and the team. Now I can feel more relaxed for the weekend.

This Dauphiné has two tough mountain stages left, starting with this Saturday's main stage towards Valmeinier.

▲ Mexican Carlos Ortiz is the highest-ranked Mexican, finishing 12th in the second round of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Local player Samuel Burns leads the field, followed by fellow Mexican John Spaun and Norwegian Viktor Hovland. AP Photo

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, June 14, 2025, p. a11