CDMX Stands Out as Economic, Investment Hub Ahead of World Cup

Mexico City is positioning itself as a secure and economically solid host for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, banking on strong public finances, rising foreign investment and a broad urban development strategy to attract businesses and visitors ahead of the global sporting event.

“If we were a country, this beautiful city would be the seventh-largest economy in Latin America,” Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada told diplomats during the 37th Meeting of Heads of Embassies and Consulates, organized by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting brought together officials from FIFA and representatives of the World Cup host states of Jalisco and Nuevo Leon. Brugada urged diplomats to promote Mexico City internationally as a reliable destination not only for the tournament, but also for investment and business.

According to official figures, Mexico City attracted MX$19 billion (US$1.1 billion) in foreign direct investment in 2025, a 36% increase from the previous year. Brugada also highlighted what she described as healthy public finances, reporting a 26% rise in locally generated revenue and a 55% increase in public investment over the past two years.

The city’s preparations for the World Cup are closely tied to an urban development agenda. Authorities are overseeing more than 2,000 public works projects launched since 2025, including three new Metrobús lines, the modernization of the Light Rail system and the full resurfacing of 250km (155 miles) of major roads.

In parallel, the city is implementing a revitalization program for the Historic Center and key tourist corridors, featuring a lighting project covering 50km of streets and heritage buildings. 

Security and Confidence

Brugada emphasized improvements in public safety as a central element in building confidence among investors and visitors. She said overall crime fell 58% between 2019 and 2025, including a 13% drop in the past year alone. Intentional homicides declined 46% over the same period.

“For those who say Mexico City is very dangerous, show them these figures,” Brugada said, noting that the capital is now the most video-monitored city in the Americas, with 135,000 surveillance cameras in operation. She called on diplomats to help spread the message that Mexico City will offer security guarantees during the World Cup.

Tourism grew 5% in 2025, while the number of foreign residents in the capital increased by 86%, according to official data. Authorities see the World Cup as a catalyst to further boost economic activity and strengthen the city’s global image as a safe, dynamic metropolis.

The government has branded its approach as a “Social World Cup,” aimed at spreading the economic benefits beyond stadiums. Plans include the construction or rehabilitation of 500 neighborhood soccer fields and the installation of 50 public fan festival sites with giant screens, centered around the city’s Historic Center. “We want a World Cup that puts people at the center, including those who may not have the resources to attend matches, but who can still experience the World Cup,” Brugada said.

AICM Renovation Reaches 35% Completion 

MBN reported that Grupo Aeroportuario Marina (GAM) has reopened multiple passenger areas at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) as part of a comprehensive renovation program launched in 2025. The operator says the reopened spaces improve mobility and strengthen the airport’s capacity to handle the post-holiday return surge. 

In Terminal 1’s international area, the remodeled zones serve about 8 million passengers per year, roughly 18% of the airport’s total travelers, according to AICM. The delivered areas include Last Waiting Room 20, baggage claim belts 10, 11, and 12 (used for flights arriving from Central and South America) and the corridor connecting immigration to those baggage belts.

GAM also reopened the “Golfo” Passenger Inspection Post, where the new configuration increases inspection lines from four to eight. The redesign includes a dedicated line for passengers with disabilities, aiming to reduce screening times for travelers and carry-on luggage.

In Terminal 2, the areas housing nine of the 12 baggage claim belts are once again operational, including five domestic and four international belts, GAM reports. These spaces handle around 12 million passengers per year, according to the airport.

Across both terminals, the reopened zones received upgrades to electrical and hydrosanitary systems, flooring, ceilings, signage, and renovated walls and columns. The airport also says that additional areas are scheduled for January, including portions of Terminal 1’s façades and a remodeled ambulatory area that will add a new fast-food zone. With these handovers, AICM said the renovation has reached 35% overall progress.

The reopenings are being managed by GAM, the entity created by merging AICM with two other Mexico City airport management firms, GACM and SACM. The merger process was authorized in August 2024 and later concluded with AICM as the surviving legal entity operating under the GAM name.  

Beyond the reopened areas, AICM is carrying out a broader MX$8.5 billion (US$460 million) renovation ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when Mexico City is set to host the opening match. The program prioritizes structural rehabilitation, drainage upgrades, and reconfiguration of passenger areas to improve efficiency and reliability, rather than expanding capacity.