World Cup 2026 Boosts Hiring Expectations in Mexico

Preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are driving stronger hiring expectations in Mexico, with 53% of employers planning workforce expansion amid rising demand in tourism, construction and services. The outlook highlights short-term job creation opportunities while exposing structural labor market challenges in hospitality and operational roles.

More than half of employers in Mexico expect to increase hiring in the coming months as preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup accelerate. A survey by ManpowerGroup found that 53% of employers plan to expand their workforce between April and June, reflecting rising demand linked to infrastructure, tourism and services tied to the tournament.

The survey results suggest that the World Cup is emerging as a short-term driver of hiring expectations across several sectors. “The economic impact of the 2026 World Cup will be a relevant catalyst for employment and productive activity,” said Alberto Alesi, Managing Director, ManpowerGroup for Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America, as cited by El Economista. 

The ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey shows a significant improvement in hiring expectations compared with earlier periods. In the first quarter of 2026, only 38% of employers expected to increase staffing levels. The new figure represents a 15-percentage-point increase.

Hiring expectations have also improved compared with 2Q25, when 46% of employers anticipated workforce expansion. Mexico will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, marking the third time the country has hosted the tournament. The event is scheduled to begin June 10, 2026, with the opening match at Estadio Banorte.

The tournament will last 39 days and feature 104 matches among 48 national teams, making it the largest World Cup in FIFA history. Mexico and Canada will host 13 matches each, while the United States will host 78, including the final.

Preparations for the event are expected to drive activity across several industries, particularly tourism, hospitality, transportation and construction. Analysts have noted that the need to accommodate international visitors and upgrade infrastructure could generate temporary employment in the months leading up to the tournament.

Tourism authorities estimate that Mexico could receive around 5 million visitors during the World Cup. According to consulting firm EY, the average tourist is expected to spend about MX$8,000(US$449) per day in host cities.

Business organizations have also emphasized the broader economic potential of the event. The Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (CONCANACO SERVYTUR) estimates that the tournament could generate up to MX$200 billion (US$11.22 billion) in economic benefits for Mexico, significantly above the federal government’s official estimate of MX$65 billion (US$3.65 billion). 

Regional and sectoral hiring expectations

According to ManpowerGroup’s survey, hiring expectations vary by region but remain strongest in areas that will host World Cup matches. Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are the three host cities for the tournament. These cities are located within regions that report some of the strongest hiring outlooks in the country.

Employers in the Northeast and Western regions, where Monterrey and Guadalajara are located, reported hiring expectations of 49%. In Mexico City, hiring expectations reached 40%. By sector, construction and real estate show the strongest outlook. Around 53% of employers in those industries expect to increase staffing levels during the second quarter of the year.

Alesi said these sectors are benefiting from ongoing investment in infrastructure and industrial development, as well as preparations linked to the World Cup. “The results this quarter reflect a change in the hiring pace in Mexico,” Alesi said. “We observe a clear acceleration driven by strategic sectors such as construction and real estate.”

Infrastructure projects in host cities are already underway to accommodate the expected influx of visitors. In Mexico City, authorities are upgrading the light rail system that connects to Estadio Banorte, expanding trolleybus lines and improving metro stations and surrounding roads.

Juan Pablo de Botton, Minister of Administration and Finance for Mexico City, said these improvements are designed to increase mobility and manage the expected concentration of fans during the tournament.

Labor market conditions

The increase in hiring expectations follows a mixed start to the year for Mexico’s labor market. According to the National Survey of Occupation and Employment (ENOE), the economy lost more than 705,000 jobs in January compared with December, marking one of the largest employment declines for the start of the year since the pandemic.

However, formal employment figures have shown signs of recovery. Data from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) shows that 22.7 million jobs were registered as of February 2026, the highest level recorded for that month.

During February alone, the labor market added 182,778 jobs, the largest increase recorded for that month since records began. In the first two months of the year, Mexico generated 174,674 jobs, nearly 75% of which were permanent positions.

Mexico City, Nuevo León and Sonora led job creation between January and February, according to IMSS data. Mexico City added more than 29,000 formal jobs, followed by Nuevo León with more than 28,000 and Sonora with more than 22,000. Other states reporting employment growth included Baja California, Veracruz, Guanajuato and Querétaro.

Despite these gains, some states experienced job losses. The State of Mexico reported a decline of more than 27,000 positions during the first two months of the year, while Tlaxcala lost more than 9,000 jobs.

Temporary employment and economic expectations

Analysts expect much of the employment generated by the World Cup to be temporary, particularly in tourism, hospitality, security and transportation services.

Mexico City is projected to generate between 50,000 and 100,000 temporary jobs linked to the World Cup, primarily in restaurants, hotels and transportation. The surge in demand highlights structural pressures within the city’s service economy, including high turnover in operational roles and labor mobility challenges. To address these issues, industry groups and companies are combining targeted training initiatives with AI-driven recruitment platforms such as ChambasAI to match candidates with vacancies more efficiently.

Programs promoted by the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (CANIRAC) aim to strengthen workforce readiness, expand service capacity and help workers transition from short-term World Cup employment into more stable roles within the hospitality and tourism sectors.

However, business groups argue that the event could produce longer-term benefits by strengthening tourism supply chains and accelerating investment in infrastructure. CONCANACO SERVYTUR has proposed a national strategy to distribute the economic benefits of the tournament beyond the host cities. The initiative includes support for small businesses in tourism, gastronomy and local commerce.

The organization estimates that the tournament could generate nearly MX$200 billion in economic activity if domestic consumption programs and tourism promotion efforts are coordinated nationwide. Meanwhile, the ManpowerGroup survey suggests that employers remain optimistic about short-term hiring trends. Only 12% of employers said they expect to reduce their workforce during the second quarter of 2026, down from 15% in the previous quarter. About 33% expect no change in staffing levels, while only 2% said they remain uncertain about hiring decisions.