The report says the tournament generated 7.5 million trips across Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, against an earlier forecast of 5.5 million.
That distinction matters. Day-trippers can fill streets, fan zones and stadium approaches, but overnight guests typically spend more on hotels, restaurants, transport and leisure. The report puts tournament-related tourism spending at roughly 40 billion pesos, while also noting that hotel occupancy was strongest around matchdays.
The commercial opportunity was therefore real, but uneven. Mexico attracted attention; the harder task is keeping visitors in the country longer.
The sporting narrative also ended earlier than Mexico would have wanted. The report says the country hosted 13 of the tournament’s 104 matches, including a round-of-16 tie in which England eliminated Mexico.
For a host nation, progress on the pitch can amplify everything around it. A deep run creates extra fixtures, more emotional investment and additional reasons for travelling supporters to extend their stay. Mexico still gained the visibility of a major tournament, but its football journey did not provide the longest possible platform.
Rodríguez said the government wants to convert the tournament’s attention into future leisure and business travel.
“Precisamos construir esses resultados com uma campanha promocional que aproveite o impulso real gerado pela Copa”, she said.
The report says authorities expect visitor numbers to rise and plan to work with states and businesses to promote destinations beyond the three host cities. The next test will come after the stadiums fall quiet: whether Mexico can turn World Cup memories into hotel bookings, longer holidays and repeat visits.