September 5, 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced that in the coming days it could be decided whether June 11, 2026 , the opening day of the World Cup , will be considered a national holiday . During her morning press conference on September 5, she explained that the work on organizing the sporting event is well advanced. All official information will likely be presented next week.
«We’re already finalizing some organizational details, but we’re going to ask Gabriela Cuevas to present the program to us, along with the Ministry of the Interior and the entire team. It’s been a lot of organizational work,» the president said.
When asked whether a holiday would be declared nationwide, Sheinbaum did not confirm the measure, although she left the possibility open. She indicated that this announcement would be made during the program’s presentation, where logistics and the event’s scope across the country would be discussed.
In Mexico City , June 11 has already been declared a day of rest by the head of government, Clara Brugada, who confirmed on September 3 that she intends to ensure that the population enjoys the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Sheinbaum also explained that her government is in talks with FIFA to install giant screens in the capital’s Zócalo and other public spaces. This is so that matches can be viewed collectively. She emphasized that these efforts are being carried out in coordination with the international organization. The reason is that there are specific rules for the broadcast and distribution of matches.
Thus, although it is not yet clear whether June 11, 2026, will be a national holiday , the president made it clear that her administration is working to ensure that Mexico fully experiences the World Cup . This includes activities both in stadiums and in public spaces that allow for citizen participation.
