Think of it as being like a dinner party where the hosts are in the midst of a tense argument when you arrive.
Football fans travelling to North America for the continent’s first co-hosted World Cup will find three host countries who have endured a tense time.
The tournament, which will take place across a sprawling 16 host cities and three countries, comes after a period of fractious relations between its hosts: the US, Canada and Mexico.
The underlying issues seemed distant when the countries’ leaders met for the draw in Washington DC in December and posed for a selfie with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino. But teaming up for a full 39-day tournament is likely to be a different ball game.
US President Donald Trump has been unashamedly open about the fact that the US is the dominant power on the continent. That means the very real tensions between the three nations on issues such as trade, immigration and drug-trafficking – which have all simmered since Trump returned to office – could spill back into view.
On the other hand, get it right and the World Cup could forge closer ties between the trio.
Tensions over trade, tourism – and Trump
Mexico and Canada, the top trading partners for the US, will not have forgotten that they were among the first countries to be targeted by Trump with tariffs.Canada – which was also angered by Trump’s repeated comments about making the country a “51st state” of the US – hit back with its own counter-measures. Provinces pulled US alcohol from shelves and Canadians significantly curbed travel south, which irritated the US in return.
The issues Canada and Mexico both have with the US have also impacted relationship between them, suggests Carlo Dade, director of international policy at the University of Calgary.
Canada had been accused of throwing Mexico under the bus ahead of Trump’s second term, as Canadian and US officials argued that Mexico was serving as a back door in North America for Chinese investment.
“It was downright disrespectful,” Dade comments.
That means Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also found himself trying to patch things up with Mexico as he tries to diversify trade away from the US.
Three’s a crowd
A World Cup has never before been hosted across three countries. And given that the 2026 tournament is spanning an entire continent, there is a wide array of different authorities involved.
With fans travelling between the three nations to watch matches, stepped-up US immigration enforcement efforts could create logistical headaches and inflame already frayed nerves.
And American security concerns – heightened because of the ongoing Iran war – could add new layers of frustration and the potential for seemingly innocuous incidents to escalate unexpectedly.
US rights groups urge caution for World Cup visitors
“Co-hosting these global sporting events is not necessarily a recipe for a lovey-dovey relationship between the co-hosts,” says Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, an author and clinical assistant professor of global sport at New York University.
Krasnoff says that while the women’s 2023 World Cup hosted by New Zealand and Australia was a net positive, the joint Japan-South Korea men’s tournament in 2002 was a “mixed bag” for two nations with a long and uneven history. “It didn’t negatively impact the bilateral relationship, but it’s kind of viewed historically as kind of a draw,” she adds.
Fifa itself has voiced great hopes for the model, saying: “It’s a moment when three countries and an entire continent collectively say: ‘We are united as one to welcome the world and deliver the biggest, best and most inclusive FIFA World Cup ever.'”
Papering over the cracks?
The leader of each nation may want to use the tournament not only to show they can get along with their neighbours, but to prove a point to those who criticise them on domestic issues.
That is certainly true of Mexico, where there has been a degree of doom and gloom around co-hosting. There have been persistent questions over the readiness of the capital’s main airport, its saturated public transport system and the revamped Azteca stadium. Not to mention the appearance of cartel members on the streets a few months ago in a short-lived but widespread display of violence.
“It’s time to witness the best football in the world and to share with everyone who we are – not only a country of immense cultural heritage, but of an empowered people,” she said last year.
It would be wrong to paper over the cracks or whitewash the issues Mexico has faced in the run-up to kick, argues Mexican football journalist, Rafael Puente.
“I really hope the fans show patience and good behaviour in the face of some of these problems which we can’t hide,” Puente adds. “The only thing we can hope for is the excitement, illusion and expectation which the Mexican people have shown in the past, particularly around the participation of the national team.”
Trio eye goals beyond the tournament
Analysts have suggested that the three neighbours could manage some other breakthroughs if they can get the sport right over the next month or so.
The trio are in the middle of a challenging review of a landmark North American free trade agreement, known as the USMCA. The review has left uncertainty hanging over a trading partnership that has been in place in some form since 1994.
Mexico has launched formal talks with the US, something Canada has yet to do.
Canada, which is seeking closer trade ties with China, and Mexico, which has increased tariffs on the Asian country, are also moving in different direction with respect to the Trump administration’s “elevation of the importance of China as a primary consideration”, says Dade, of the University of Calgary.
But the the World Cup offers an opportunity for diplomacy – as we saw when the Trump, Carney and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum were all smiles together at the tournament draw in December.
“Anytime you get leaders together, it’s generally a good thing,” Dade comments.
For his part, Trump, who regularly boasts of his nation being the “hottest” in the world, clearly views the World Cup as a chance for the US to bask in the global limelight.
His desire to dominate the proceedings, whether by attending events or firing off Truth Social posts, might foster resentment among America’s two neighbours and, ultimately, cause damage to North American relations in the longer term.
On the other hand, he is heavily invested in the tournament’s success – and may take special efforts to avoid the kind of diplomatic incidents that could mar proceedings.
Football is a funny old game, as the cliche goes. Just as the sport itself is unpredictable, there is no telling which way this new experiment in three-way hosting will go.
“It was always going to be very complicated and very complex from the get go,” Krasnoff observes, “even when the bid was first awarded.”
Protests and last-minute construction work disrupt Mexico City ahead of World Cup
Eight days before Mexico City kicks off the World Cup, mass protests by teachers and retired judges, road closures and last-minute construction work caused chaos in the capital on Wednesday for millions of residents who face long delays and complex rerouting of their daily commutes.
With Mexico in the global spotlight, teachers and other groups have staged marches and blocked major avenues. They have said their protests, which are unrelated to the tournament, could intensify unless President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government addresses their demands.
The CNTE, a dissident wing of the national teachers’ union, has threatened mass demonstrations at the opening of the World Cup in official statements shared on social media.
The union is demanding the government fulfill a campaign pledge to repeal a 2007 law that overhauled the pension and social security system for public-sector workers, as well as salary increases.
“The current government made a campaign commitment — both the government of (former President) Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President Sheinbaum’s — they said they had that commitment to teachers to strike down that reform … but it never happened,” Rodrigo Arias, a schoolteacher from the southern state of Oaxaca with 40 years of classroom experience, said.
“There is neglect. There is a policy of managing timelines, of making commitments that are never truly kept. We will keep mobilizing until we are heard — even with the World Cup on the horizon,” added Arias, outside the Interior Ministry, where the CNTE was holding a protest while its leaders met with authorities in hope of reaching agreements.
The protests are concentrated on Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma, two of the capital’s busiest and most emblematic boulevards. Elsewhere in the capital, teachers were also blocking roads, generating traffic gridlock and frustrating commuters.
On Tuesday, protesters toppled towering statues of football players on Mexico City’s Paseo de la Reforma.
Arias said those responsible were not members of the union and that the CNTE was not seeking to destroy property or provoke confrontation. Nevertheless, several businesses along the avenue had by Wednesday erected metal and wooden barriers to protect themselves.
Sheinbaum said at her daily morning press conference that she would not be baited into provocations or order a crackdown on the demonstrations.
In downtown Mexico City, retired judges and magistrates were also protesting, demanding severance pay and pensions following a sweeping 2024 judicial reform that restructured the country’s justice system.
“The traffic is really affecting us; we’re losing too much time,” lamented Armando Escobedo, a delivery driver, as he took a detour around street closures. “You have to be empathetic with the teachers, but they do hurt us at work,” he added.
Mexico will host 13 World Cup matches: five in the capital, and four each in the cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey. Mexico City has undergone several infrastructure projects ahead of the world’s biggest sporting event.
However, renovations at the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City, the country’s largest and busiest airport, and repairs to the capital’s metro system and main avenues have yet to be completed. On Tuesday, a metal structure from a pedestrian bridge at the airport collapsed, injuring a motorist.
Negotiations Could Stretch Out for Months Amid Trade Tensions
President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney holds their countries’ name during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the
The U.S., Mexico and Canada are set to blow past a July 1 milestone to renew their trade deal, opening the possibility of months or years of haggling over the rules and tariffs for auto manufacturing and other industries, people familiar with the matter said.
The agreement, signed by President Donald Trump during his first term, includes a deadline next month to extend the pact for 16 years. If all three countries don’t agree to renew it, the deal remains in place until at least 2036 — barring one of them quitting it entirely — and enters rolling annual reviews.
Officials close to the process now say that’s the most likely scenario. By declining to formally renew, the Trump administration will trigger negotiations and an indefinite period of uncertainty about the future of the agreement, the people said, speaking on condition they not be identified to discuss private talks.
In the meantime, against the backdrop of the review, the U.S. has started separate bilateral talks with Canada and Mexico over trade irritants. Some of those issues are only loosely related to the pact known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Side deals may be struck to address them without changes to the USMCA’s underlying text.
Canada and Mexico are two of the largest U.S. trading partners and the top buyers of its goods. But they’ve still been faced with new tariffs on products such as autos and steel — straining ties and spurring boycotts.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has said the U.S. wouldn’t rubber-stamp an extension of the agreement. The U.S. and Mexico have already scheduled their third round of talks for mid-July, while the U.S. has had less formal discussions with Canada.
Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian minister responsible for U.S. trade, met with Greer this week in Washington and afterward suggested July 1 shouldn’t be seen as a crucial date. “I think we’ve got to be careful not to set up a cliff that doesn’t exist,” he said.
The office of the USTR declined to comment and instead referred to recent remarks by Greer, who told France 24 that on July 1, “I don’t think we’re going to renew it outright, but we’ll engage in the separate negotiations.”
One of Trump’s goals is to pull more automotive assembly and other manufacturing jobs into the U.S., and he sees tariffs and trade rules as ways to do it. The White House is pushing for a new standard on new vehicles of at least 50% U.S. content to qualify for tariff-free treatment — a condition Trump unsuccessfully sought in the renegotiation during his first term.
Familiar irritants have also popped up again, such as Canada’s dairy management system that restricts imports. And defense programs are also a source of tension, such as whether Canada will follow through on an order of F-35 fighter jets.
It’s not clear how far the White House can go in changing the terms without altering the legal text of the USMCA, which could require a politically unpalatable vote in Congress.
Greer has signaled the administration wants changes without going to Congress, some of the people said, preferring instead to squeeze Canada and Mexico for concessions that would be spelled out in side letters or “protocols.”
Canada’s chief trade negotiator, Janice Charette, has described them as focused on a “kind of snap-on Lego bilateral piece” added to the original deal.
Senior officials in Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government are pushing to get an agreement to address the steep tariffs Trump imposed on steel, aluminum, autos and lumber.
Carney annoyed Trump with a speech in Davos that accused the world’s superpowers of coercive tactics, but he has taken a more conciliatory approach recently. He used an event in New York to publicly pitch the U.S. on closer cooperation on critical minerals such as potash and uranium. Trump is also keen on a modified version of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada.
This week, Carney’s government backed off a plan to force major streaming companies such as Netflix Inc. and Walt Disney Co. to spend 15% of their annual Canadian revenue on local content. The U.S. ambassador in Ottawa praised that decision.
But Canadian officials are nevertheless bracing for a scenario in which tariff negotiations drag on for years, perhaps all the way through the end of Trump’s term in 2029.
As talks intensify, they believe the president may do more of what he’s done since January 2025 — hitting Canada with new tariffs or denouncing its government in social media posts — and may even threaten to pull the U.S. out of the trade deal to add pressure and force concessions. After his meeting with Greer, LeBlanc sounded an optimistic tone but warned of “turbulence” ahead.
Talks with Mexico have focused heavily on the auto sector. Like Canada, Mexico’s economy is suffering due to uncertainty over tariffs. Latin America’s second-largest economy has now seen 19 straight months of negative total investment.
Brian Antonellis of Fleet Advantage discusses how fleet leaders should be thinking about capital planning with the 2027 NOx emissions rules on the horizon. Tune in above or by going to RoadSigns.ttnews.com.
When asked for comment, the Mexican government referred to a letter released by Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard in which he states the priority for USMCA should be keeping it as a three-way agreement.
It’s an open question whether Trump would agree to renew the agreement at all, or whether his administration will simply elect to keep it in constant reviews — which would make it harder for its smaller partners to win investment. If the White House doesn’t commit to renewal, Canada or Mexico may balk at making concessions.
Trump can always give six months’ notice to quit the deal altogether, something he’s privately flirted with but not publicly threatened of late.
Instead, the talks with Mexico and Canada appear headed toward side deals with each country, similar to the agreements Trump has struck with other nations to trade tariff relief for certain concessions.
Shakira and Burna Boy opening World Cup in Mexico, Katy Perry headlines US
Shakira and Burna Boy will perform in Mexico City for the first of three opening ceremonies at the World Cup.
The music stars will perform Dai Dai, the official song for the tournament, ahead of the opening game between cohost Mexico and South Africa on Thursday.
FIFA has planned opening ceremonies for each host nation, with curtain-raisers ahead of games in the United States and Canada as well.
World football’s governing body has revealed the lineup for the show in Mexico, which also includes Alejandro Fernandez, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Angeles Azules, Mana and Tyla. It said more artists would be announced for the ceremonies in the US and Canada.
Alanis Morissette and Michael Buble headline in Toronto on June 12 ahead of Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Later that day, Katy Perry, global pop star LISA, Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema, Brazilian pop artist Anitta, and hip-hop artist Future are performing in Los Angeles before the US faces Paraguay.
The trio of shows is being created by Italian producer Marco Balich, who was behind the spectacular opening ceremony for this year’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Each show will be held about 90 minutes before kickoff.
Shakira is also among the headliners performing at a Super Bowl-style half-time show for the World Cup final, along with Madonna and boy band BTS.
Diana Ross performed at the opening ceremony in Chicago when the World Cup was last held in the US in 1994 and famously missed a penalty kick as part of the show.
What can I expect from Mexico?
Mexico were quarter-finalists on the two previous occasions they were World Cup hosts, but repeating that feat could be a tall order.
This is by no means a vintage Mexican side, with relatively few players based in Europe’s top five leagues and the team’s biggest name, Raul Jimenez, in the twilight of his career.
There has also been some negativity around El Tri’s style of play, with some fans even booing them in goalless draws against Uruguay and Portugal.
But the atmosphere at a home World Cup should be more upbeat and if Javier Aguirre’s side can win the tournament opener against South Africa, momentum could quickly build.
Aguirre usually demands an aggressive high press from his players, and often fields a narrow front three, with full-backs pushing forward to provide the width.
What are Mexico’s strengths?
The co-hosts have been handed a kind draw, have home advantage and should also benefit from playing all three group games at altitude, where the thinner air can sap opponents’ energy.
They work tirelessly to regain possession quickly and underlined their defensive solidity in March’s draws with Portugal and Belgium. Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes complement each other effectively at centre-back, making Mexico a tough nut to crack.
And what about their weaknesses?
El Tri have often struggled to find attacking fluency under Aguirre and if they do toil this summer, supporters may quickly get edgy.
The squad appears a little light on specialist centre-backs, while goalkeeper Luis Angel Malagon – who was expected to be the number one – was ruled out in March with a torn Achilles tendon.
How might Mexico line up?
Which players should I look out for?
Raul Jimenez, 35, usually delivers when Mexico need him most – just as he did in last year’s Gold Cup final against the USA, when he equalised in a 2-1 win. While the Fulham striker has failed to score at the past three World Cups, his six appearances have all been as a substitute, and a bigger role awaits this summer.
Mexico are short on star power so hopes are high that Tijuana’s creative midfielder Gilberto Mora can develop into the talisman they are searching for. If the 17-year-old features in the opening game – most likely off the bench – he will become the sixth youngest player in men’s World Cup history.
El Tri are the tournament’s fourth smallest team but Cesar Montes, 29, is a dominant presence in both boxes. The 6ft 3in tall centre-back, who scored three times at last year’s Gold Cup, joined Lokomotiv Moscow in 2024 after an unsuccessful 18-month stint in Spanish football.
Who is Mexico’s head coach?
Javier Aguirre, 67, has restored competitiveness and team harmony in his third spell in charge, though not all fans enjoy his pragmatic style.
A former midfielder who played for Mexico at the 1986 World Cup, he was also the coach when they reached the last 16 in 2002 and 2010.
Assistant Rafa Marquez – the only man to captain a country at five World Cups – will succeed him after this tournament.
How did Mexico qualify?
Automatically as co-hosts.
Where can I watch Mexico?
All of Mexico’s matches will also be covered live on the BBC Sport website and app with updates, analysis, and fan reaction. Come and be part of it!
Give me a fact to impress my friends
Mexico City is sinking by up to 40cm a year. That is because it was built on the soft clay bed of an ancient lake – once the site of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan – which was drained after the Spanish conquest.
Now give me some proper detail
If there were such a thing as a mid-table team at the World Cup, it would probably be Mexico. They are almost ever-present, yet no side has played as many matches at the tournament – 60 in total – without lifting the trophy.
Their supporters can be demanding but expectations are more modest this summer. If the co-hosts can end a 40-year wait for a knockout win, that would constitute success.
The failure to reach an elusive fifth game – the curse of the ‘quinto partido’ – has plagued Mexico for generations. El Tri went out in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups between 1994 and 2018, before ending that sequence in the worst possible way in Qatar, where they exited at the group stage.
Since then, Mexico have hired and fired two coaches before bringing back the vastly experienced Javier Aguirre for a third spell in charge in 2024.
No stone has been left unturned in his preparations. El Tri have played 22 matches over the past year, giving Aguirre ample scope to experiment with tactics and personnel. He has used 54 players in that time, fewer than half of whom made the final squad.
Those who did should be well drilled by now, especially the 12 domestic-based players. Most were told to report for training on 6 May, meaning some squad members will have been in camp for five weeks by the start of the World Cup.
How have Mexico done at previous World Cups?
This is their ninth consecutive appearance and a record third as hosts or co-hosts. They reached the quarter-finals on each of the previous two occasions, in 1970 and 1986.
Mexico backs amendment to annul election results over foreign interference
Critics say measure risks undermining electoral process and creating new avenues for contesting legitimate results.
Mexico’s lower house has approved a constitutional amendment to allow the nullification of elections in cases of foreign interference, a measure critics say could undermine confidence in the electoral process and create new avenues for contesting legitimate results.
The proposal passed the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday with 307 votes in favour, 128 against and one abstention.
It would add foreign interference to the list of grounds on which an election could be declared invalid.
The amendment, which is unlikely to affect the next federal elections in June 2027, still requires Senate approval to take effect.
The reform defines foreign interference as “illicit financing, propaganda, the systematic dissemination of disinformation, digital manipulation, and the intervention of foreign governments or agencies”.
It also covers acts of political, economic, diplomatic, or media pressure intended to influence public opinion.
Ricardo Monreal, the leader of the ruling Morena party in the lower house, defended the measure as a necessary safeguard of Mexico’s democracy, arguing that stronger constitutional protections were needed to prevent foreign actors from shaping election outcomes.
Translation: “After more than 30 straight hours of work, we in Mexico’s lower house approved reforms to strengthen our electoral system, judicial elections and Mexico’s democratic sovereignty.”
Opposition lawmakers accused the governing party of overstating the threat to justify the reform.
Monreal on Thursday also requested that politicians withdraw secondary legislation that would have established how authorities should determine foreign interference and apply the new grounds for annulling elections.
The party said there was not enough time to implement the legislation before legal deadlines tied to the 2027 election cycle.
Electoral reforms must be enacted at least 90 days before the start of the election process in order to apply.
Sheinbaum warns of risk of foreign interference
The reform comes amid growing concern within the Morena party about what it sees as increasing foreign involvement in Mexican affairs.
In recent weeks, party figures have pointed to criticism from foreign politicians and comments by US President Donald Trump as examples of outside pressure that could influence domestic politics.
“There could be a risk of foreign interference in Mexico’s elections,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said during her daily news conference following the legislative vote.
Sheinbaum said she also recognized previous instances of foreign funding for local candidates and organizations in Mexico.
Jose Elias Lixa, coordinator of the opposition National Action Party (PAN), rejected suggestions that opposing the reform amounted to supporting foreign interference.
“We do not accept that kind of argument,” Lixa told lawmakers.
“It would be like saying that those who opposed annulling elections because of organized crime interference are against fighting organized crime.”
Ruben Moreira Valdez of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) said his party opposed foreign intervention but questioned how the new rules would be applied in practice.
“We reject any foreign intervention,” Valdez said. “The problem is that we are in a debate that confuses intervention with meddling, which are different things.”
Valdez also warned that the broad language of the amendment could create uncertainty once lawmakers begin drafting the secondary legislation needed to implement it.
“What will happen if someone buys advertising abroad, if an international news story is disseminated in Mexico, or if the argument of meddling is used to restrict content and opinions?” he said.
US, Mexico, Canada rolling out Ebola-related travel measures ahead of World Cup
The U.S., Mexico and Canada — the three countries hosting this year’s FIFA World Cup beginning in June — announced public health travel measures for people coming from parts of Africa that are at greatest risk from Ebola.“This coordinated approach aims to protect our citizens and the millions of visitors, fans, athletes, and tourists expected during the FIFA World Cup 2026, while maintaining travel and commerce across our borders,” the nations said in a joint statement Thursday. “The health and safety of every person in the region remains our highest priority as we welcome the world to North America.”
No further details of the planned travel measures or a timeline were provided in the statement.
The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern on May 17 following an Ebola outbreak in Congo and neighboring Uganda after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has temporarily barred lawful permanent residents and noncitizens who traveled to Congo, South Sudan or Uganda in the past 21 days from entering the country.
Federal officials also implemented enhanced Ebola screenings at three airports: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and most recently, Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Passengers returning to the U.S. from the affected African countries are now required to enter through those three airports to undergo screenings before continuing to their final destinations.
This strain of Ebola comes from the Bundibugyo virus, which has no vaccine, according to the CDC. Health officials advise anyone who has traveled to the affected regions to seek immediate medical treatment if they develop symptoms, including fever, vomiting and unexplained bleeding.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup, told ESPN last week that Congo’s national soccer team should isolate for 21 days in Belgium, where it is currently training, to ensure smooth entry into the U.S. for its upcoming matches in Houston and Atlanta.
US, Mexico launch formal trade talks, haggle over automotive content rules
USMCA currently requires 75% of a vehicle’s value to be sourced from North America, with a separate regional value requirement that 40% of North American-built passenger car content come from higher-wage facilities, effectively in the U.S. or Canada. That threshold, which is 45% for pickup trucks, is based on a list of “core parts” including engines, transmissions, body panels and chassis components.
Mexico Leads North America in Travel & Tourism Growth, Spend and Arrivals in 2025
Mexico emerged as North America’s strongest Travel & Tourism performer in 2025, outperforming both the United States and Canada across key growth indicators including Travel & Tourism GDP, international visitor spending, and international arrivals, according to new 2026 EIR data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, sponsored by Chase Travel, Lead Research Partner.
WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) shows Mexico’s Travel & Tourism GDP grew 1.8% in 2025, ahead of the United States at 0.9% and Canada at 1.2%. While growth in the United States moderated, it remains the world’s largest Travel & Tourism economy.
Mexico also led the region on international visitor spending growth in 2025, increasing 3.5%, while the United States recorded a decline of 4.6% and Canada a decline of 3.5%. International visitor arrivals to Mexico increased 6.1% during the same period, compared with declines of 5.5% in the United States and 0.6% in Canada.
Globally, WTTC data forecasts Travel & Tourism will contribute $12TN to the world economy in 2026, accounting for 9.9% of global GDP, while supporting 376 million jobs worldwide. Over the next decade, global Travel & Tourism GDP is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 3.6%, 1.5 times faster than the wider global economy at 2.4%.
According to WTTC’s research, North America’s Travel & Tourism sector continues to benefit from strong domestic demand and lower exposure to geopolitical disruption linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the region less dependent on affected transit routes and source markets than other parts of the world.
Looking ahead, the FIFA World Cup is expected to provide a major boost to Travel & Tourism growth across North America in 2026. WTTC forecasts Travel & Tourism GDP growth of 6.4% in Canada, 2.4% in Mexico, and 2.1% in the United States this year, reinforcing the region’s position as one of the world’s most important tourism markets.
WTTC data indicates the FIFA World Cup presents a significant strategic opportunity to strengthen long-term tourism growth across the region through improved connectivity, enhanced visitor experience, and closer cross-border cooperation.
The organisation also emphasised the importance of continued investment in aviation, tourism infrastructure, digital innovation, and streamlined visitor entry processes to maintain North America’s global competitiveness and support future growth.
WTTC research indicates continued focus on connectivity, destination infrastructure, and visitor experience will be key to consolidating Mexico’s position as the region’s leading growth market.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO of WTTC, said:
“North America’s Travel & Tourism sector continues to demonstrate resilience and strong long-term potential, supported by robust domestic demand and sustained investment across the region. Mexico’s performance in 2025 clearly shows the strength of its tourism sector and its growing competitiveness on the global stage.
“The FIFA World Cup presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for North America to accelerate tourism growth, strengthen connectivity, and showcase the region to millions of travellers worldwide. This international event is a chance to capitalize on the long-term benefits it provides.”
According to WTTC’s latest research, Travel & Tourism is forecast to support 30.9 million jobs across North America in 2026, representing 12.7% of all jobs in the region.
Notes to Editors:
WTTC’s Economic Impact Research is produced in partnership with Oxford Economics and is among the world’s most authoritative datasets on the economic contribution of Travel & Tourism.
Forecasts for 2026 are based on current economic and geopolitical conditions at the time of publication and include assumptions related to inflation, energy prices, consumer demand, and regional geopolitical developments. As the global situation evolves, projections may be subject to change.
Trump’s trade czar says tariffs will remain on Canada, Mexico despite trade agreement
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations today, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was asked about the state of negotiations with Ottawa around the Canada-U.S.-Mexico-Agreement on trade, known as CUSMA.
The Trump administration has begun official negotiations with Mexico but they haven’t started with Canada.
Greer says most nations have begrudgingly accepted some level of tariffs but Canada’s approach has been different.
Greer says Canada is in a “different spot” when it comes to accepting Trump’s tariffs and it’s “hard to see where that ends.”
Greer says some areas of negotiations with Canada will be challenging — pointing to the automobile sector — but others will not be as hard.