Mexico Tourism Surges Ahead of FIFA 2026 World Cup

May and June 2025 were strong months for Mexico globally as the country prepares to welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Closer to home, Mexico’s Ambassador to Canada Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez says that Canada continues to be “one of Mexico’s closest and most trusted partners in the tourism sector.”

In an media update sent this week, the Mexico Ambassy of Canada said Canadian travellers continue to choose Mexico as their holiday destination, with Canada holding its position as the second most important source of international visitors to Mexico.

“As we look ahead, all eyes are on 2026, when Mexico, together with Canada and the United States, will co-host the FIFA World Cup — the most widely viewed and celebrated sporting event in the world,” said Gonzalez.

“The excitement is already in the air. In these times of global change and opportunity, we must continue to support sustainable tourism as a source of income, connection, and development.”

Sustainable tourism is a pressing topic in Mexico. According to the newly established Sustainable Tourism Advanced Research Center (STARC) — an interdisciplinary research hub based in Cancún and affiliated with Anáhuac Cancún University — the Cancún–Toronto and Cancún–Montréal air routes now hold the top two spots in international rankings, with a combined annual growth rate of 47.8%. STARC focuses on applied research to inform both private sector and government decision-making in sustainable tourism.

Montreal and Toronto will have a direct link to Guadalajara starting in November with two new routes from Transat and Air Canada that will add up to four connections to Canada in less than a year. Porter Airlines will begin connecting Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton with Puerto Vallarta International Airport starting in November 2025. Flair Airlines just announced nonstop service to Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX) from both Vancouver (YVR) and Toronto (YYZ), beginning October 2025; they are the first Canadian ULCC to offer direct access to the capital.

The states of Baja California Sur, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, and Puebla will join the SECTUR-UNESCO alliance, setting a milestone for the National Community Tourism Plan and the construction of the first National Guide to Community Tourism Experiences.

Mazatlán aims to position itself as a hub for medical tourism, with specialties such as bariatric surgery, aesthetic procedures, dentistry, trauma care, and fertility treatments, attracting patients from the U.S. and Canada seeking affordable and efficient care. The state is also seeing overall growth with 1.9 million passengers and 227,000 cruise ship passengers, generating over $355 million pesos (roughly $24M CDN) for the local economy as Mireya Sosa Osuna, Secretary of Tourism of the State of Sinaloa told us earlier this month.

“Mexico is proud to share its beauty and its history with the world,” said Gonzalez. “As we continue building bridges of cooperation with Canada and other partners, we reaffirm our commitment to inclusive and resilient tourism.”