Mexico City Mayor Pledges Warm Welcome for All 2026 World Cup Fans
Mexico City will embrace fans from all nations and cultures during the 2026 World Cup, Mayor Clara Brugada said on Wednesday as she unveiled the countdown clock marking one year to the tournament's return to the Mexican capital.
As the city prepares to host the World Cup for the third time, Brugada stressed the importance of inclusion and openness, framing a contrast to anti-immigration measures in co-host nation the United States under President Donald Trump.
"All football fans are welcome here. In this city, no one is a foreigner," Brugada said at the FIFA event.
"We will joyfully welcome those who come from all corners of the globe, with their music, their colors, their languages and their passion. We think diversity is our greatest treasure."
"Today is a very special day for Mexico City. We are exactly 365 days away from opening our doors to the world and hosting, for the third time, the opening of a World Cup, something that no other city on the planet has ever achieved."
Addressing concerns from residents near the Azteca Stadium, Mayor Brugada assured them that they would benefit from over six billion pesos in investments aimed at upgrading public services and infrastructure.
"We will strengthen the rights of residents with more water, better public spaces and more services," Reuters quoted her as saying.
"We are therefore building a legacy, and that is something that fills us with pride. That is why we have made a historic investment in works, infrastructure, water, security and mobility."
In addition, as part of the festivities leading up to the 2026 World Cup, more than 40 buildings and landmarks in Mexico City will be illuminated in green on Wednesday night.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Al Arabiya
Mexican citizen dies in US immigration detention center
A Mexican citizen died in a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center from undetermined circumstances, Mexico's foreign ministry has said. The death comes amid ongoing demonstrations in several US states, most prominently in California, against immigration enforcement raids launched by US President Donald Trump's administration. The man died on June 7 at an ICE facility in the southern state of Georgia, where he was being held after he was transferred from a state prison, the foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday. US authorities notified the Mexican consulate in Georgia's capital Atlanta of the death. 'Consular staff has established communication with local and ICE authorities, as well as with the individual's family members, to clarify the facts, confirm the official cause of death, and provide legal advice and support to the family,' the ministry said. Mexico's foreign ministry said consular staff had not been notified to interview the detainee while he was in custody, despite regular visits to the facility to assist Mexican nationals. 'The consulate has requested an explanation from the (detention) center's authorities,' the ministry said. It also said it was examining legal options and maintaining communication with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the state's independent investigative body.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Mexican citizen dies in US immigration detention center
MEXICO CITY: A Mexican citizen died in a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center from undetermined circumstances, Mexico's foreign ministry has said. The death comes amid ongoing demonstrations in several US states, most prominently in California, against immigration enforcement raids launched by US President Donald Trump's administration. The man died on June 7 at an ICE facility in the southern state of Georgia, where he was being held after he was transferred from a state prison, the foreign ministry said in a statement Thursday. US authorities notified the Mexican consulate in Georgia's capital Atlanta of the death. 'Consular staff has established communication with local and ICE authorities, as well as with the individual's family members, to clarify the facts, confirm the official cause of death, and provide legal advice and support to the family,' the ministry said. Mexico's foreign ministry said consular staff had not been notified to interview the detainee while he was in custody, despite regular visits to the facility to assist Mexican nationals. 'The consulate has requested an explanation from the (detention) center's authorities,' the ministry said. It also said it was examining legal options and maintaining communication with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the state's independent investigative body.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Miami World Cup Officials Play Down Travel Concerns a Year from Kick-off
As a gleaming clock began ticking towards the 2026 World Cup, Miami officials launched the city's one-year countdown seeking to allay fears that America's stricter immigration stance could deter the overseas fans that it hopes to attract. The celebratory unveiling on Wednesday, featuring singer Marc Anthony, came just days after unrest in Los Angeles and amid the implementation of stricter border controls under President Donald Trump's administration. "I don't think anybody has anything to be afraid of. Miami is an incredibly welcoming place, and we're very excited to welcome the world," Alina T. Hudak, president of the 2026 Miami Host Committee, said at the countdown event. The digital clock, soon to greet travelers at Miami International Airport, marks 365 days until the start of the biggest World Cup in history — 48 teams playing 104 matches across three North American nations, Reuters reported. However, security arrangements have drawn particular scrutiny, especially regarding the involvement of immigration enforcement agencies. Marcio Carvalho Da Silva Correia, a Brazilian visitor to Miami, told Reuters he had heard people talking about concerns they had about the World Cup. "They're scared they'll show up and get deported," he said. "But I think, given how beautiful the party is going to be, nothing like that is going to happen." Rodney Barreto, co-chair of the Miami Host Committee, confirmed that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be involved in security operations. "They will be there to support us with security, but not to capture people," he said. At Fiorito, an Argentine restaurant in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood, fans of the South American nation's defending champions expressed confidence that their countrymen would travel regardless. "Wherever the World Cup is, it's great ... we're excited about being world champions and we can do much more," Argentina supporter Nicolas Lomazzi. For Miami, a city shaped by successive waves of immigration, hosting the tournament represents a delicate balancing act — showcasing its multicultural identity while navigating an increasingly complex immigration landscape. Brazilian-born Miami resident Pedro Lub said the city's Latino population was really excited about soccer's biggest tournament coming to town and he hoped the immigration authorities did not use it as an excuse for a crackdown. "I have a lot of friends that are in weird situations without status or something like that and yeah, everybody's worried," he told Reuters. "People are just trying to watch a soccer match. It'd be pretty bad if they got caught just trying to have fun. "I think people are expecting it to be a great tournament."
