Mexico Steps Up Health, Food Safety Controls Ahead of World Cup

Mexican federal and local authorities are expanding health, food safety and sanitary inspection programs ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the country prepares to receive an estimated 5.5 million international visitors. The effort includes intensified oversight of food handling, hotels, pharmacies, healthcare facilities and alcoholic beverage sales, as well as strengthened agricultural inspection measures supported by international cooperation to protect public health and safeguard Mexico’s agricultural sector.

Authorities in Mexico City launched the Fourth Week Against Health Risks, a campaign designed to reinforce sanitary practices in strategic areas expected to receive large numbers of visitors during the tournament. Activities are being carried out in public markets, street markets, transportation hubs, water purification facilities, medical units, pharmacies, commercial establishments, sports centers and high-traffic tourist areas, including Zócalo, Zona Rosa, Arena México, and the area surrounding Estadio Azteca.

Authorities identified five priority areas for intervention: food handling practices, water quality, prevention of counterfeit health products, tobacco-related risks, and oversight of alcoholic beverages. Ricardo Arturo Barreiro, Deputy Secretary of Medical Services and Supplies, Mexico City’s Ministry of Health, said the objective is to strengthen sanitary promotion programs through training, risk communication, guidance and collaboration with productive sectors. 

“The main objective of this week is to strengthen sanitary promotion schemes with productive sectors through training, risk communication, guidance, advisory services and coordination, as well as other regulatory measures aimed at improving hygienic conditions in perishable products, methods, facilities and services to prevent and reduce health risks for the population,” he said.

Jordi Velasco, Executive Director of Planning and Performance Evaluation, Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS), said simultaneous activities are being conducted nationwide to strengthen preventive measures.

“Throughout this week, activities will be carried out simultaneously across the country, focused on five priority areas: good food handling practices, water quality for human consumption and recreational use, prevention of health risks associated with counterfeit health products and misleading products, and strengthening prevention and control measures related to tobacco products, alternative systems and alcoholic beverages,” he said.

Health authorities are also intensifying inspections in World Cup host cities and tourism corridors. Hotels, restaurants, hospitals, pharmacies and tourist facilities are undergoing enhanced monitoring to reduce risks associated with the influx of domestic and international visitors. Inspection activities focus on food handling conditions, temperature controls, supplier traceability, cold and hot chain management, handwashing protocols and hygiene procedures during food preparation. 

In Guadalajara, one of the tournament’s host cities, authorities are implementing additional controls around the Fan Fest planned for Plaza de la Liberación, including capacity limits and access controls as part of broader security and public safety measures. 

José Antonio Muñoz, Head, Jalisco’s Commission for Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COPRISJAL), said the state is leveraging experience gained from previous international events, including the Pan American Games and major exhibitions held at Expo Guadalajara.

“We supervise pharmacies, hospitals, hotels and food establishments in coordination with business chambers and municipalities to ensure that everything offered to tourists is safe,” he said. He added that visitors should verify that businesses display operating permits and sanitary licenses issued by Cofepris. “An establishment that has a license and operating permit is a safe place to eat, stay or receive medical care,” Muñoz said.

Alongside public health measures, Mexico is reinforcing agricultural and biosecurity inspections at key entry points. The National Service for Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) received 15 canine inspection units from the International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA) to strengthen inspections of agricultural goods during the World Cup period.

Santiago Ruy Sánchez, General Coordinator for International Affairs, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) said the collaboration supports Mexico’s efforts to address the sanitary challenges associated with hosting millions of visitors.

The OIRSA officers will be deployed to agricultural inspection offices in Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, Tamaulipas; Cancun, Quintana Roo; and Colombia, Nuevo Leon, where they will help detect prohibited agricultural products and strengthen border biosecurity controls.

Authorities said coordination efforts among host cities and strategic states, including the State of Mexico and Quintana Roo, will continue in the coming months as Mexico advances preparations for the World Cup. The initiatives are intended to strengthen sanitary oversight, support tourism operations, protect public health and maintain agricultural biosecurity during one of the largest international events ever hosted by the country.