- City: Mexico City
- State: Ciudad de México
- Country: Mexico
- Time difference between the UK: Minus 7 hours
- Average June Temperature: 24℃
Mexico City, Mexico
Welcome to Mexico City
Welcome to Mexico City, welcome to the capital of Mexico, and welcome to one of the most iconic football cities on the planet. This is not just a World Cup host city, it is a full-scale sensory experience that happens to also contain a football stadium.
With around nine million people in the city itself and over 20 million in the wider metropolitan area, Mexico City is absolutely enormous. It is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, and you feel that weight of history everywhere you go.
One thing that really catches people out is the altitude. At roughly 2,240 metres above sea level, almost 1000 meters higher than the highest point in the UK, this is one of the highest major cities in world football. You will notice it in small ways at first, a slightly heavier breath, a bit more effort on stairs, and it can take its toll on some as the day progresses.
We know many of you like to vape, but please be warned that these are illegal in Mexico, you cannot even travel into Mexico with one.
Football here is not just popular, it is properly lived. The city is home to giants like Club América, Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM, and matchdays feel like organised chaos in the best possible way: drums, flags, fireworks, chanting, and an intensity that makes most club atmospheres in Europe feel like a polite disagreement in a library.
© Alamy
Getting there
Mexico City is one of the main international gateways into Latin America, and most supporters will arrive via Benito Juárez International Airport, which sits relatively close to the city centre compared to many mega-cities, although the traffic to travel those few miles can be somewhat of a challenge.
Direct flights operate from London, with many more connections via the United States and Europe. Once you land, the key thing to understand is that distance is not the problem in Mexico City. Traffic is.
Getting around
Getting around Mexico City is a study in scale. Everything is further away than it looks, and traffic ensures that “quick journeys” are more of a theoretical concept than a practical reality.
Navigating Mexico City’s public transportation system is an essential part of experiencing one of the world’s largest capital cities. During the World Cup, fans and visitors can rely on the city’s extensive network, including the Metro, Metrobús, Trolebús, Cablebús, Tren Ligero, buses, and more, to travel conveniently between major attractions and key destinations across the city.
You will need to purchase a Metro Card (CDMX), these can be purchased in stations, and it may just have been us getting it wrong, but we bought it from a booth with an actual human and it was cash only.
The Metro is one of the busiest systems in the world and incredibly cheap. It is fast, extensive and efficient, but it can also be extremely crowded at peak times, particularly in central areas. If you are travelling with luggage, an Uber may be the best option.
The Metrobús runs in dedicated lanes along main roads and is generally easier for visitors to understand. It is cheap, reliable and useful for moving across key districts.
Uber and DiDi are everywhere and relatively affordable by international standards, though journey times can still be long simply due to congestion. Rain, rush hour or matchdays can all turn a simple trip into a slow-moving adventure in patience.
Walking is enjoyable in areas like Roma, Condesa, Polanco and the Historic Centre, but altitude can catch people out quickly. What feels like a casual stroll can suddenly feel like you’ve accidentally signed up for pre-season training.
Do note that there are some areas which are best to avoid within the central areas of Mexico City, a wrong turn can take you into the wrong part of town. Have an idea of your route, stay in the right parts of town and should be fine.
The Stadium
World Cup matches in Mexico City will take place at Estadio Azteca, officially referred to by FIFA as Mexico City Stadium during the tournament.
This is one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, and arguably one of the most important venues in the history of the sport. It will become the first stadium ever to host matches at three different FIFA World Cups, so it is no wonder there is so much nostalgia and demand for games here.
It will hold around 87,000 spectators during the tournament, and its history is absurd in the best possible way: Pelé lifting the World Cup in 1970, Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” in 1986, and countless other moments that have shaped football history.
This is genuinely bucket-list territory for any football supporter, and this has shown since the potential of England playing here was announced.
In terms of security, we did laugh when told that the stadiums don’t even serve food with bones in, due to the bones potentially being used as weapons. It did prompt the question, “how big are your chicken wings?” We were also told that items such as charging cables or headphones with a cable attached are banned too, but we will seek clarification on this one should England play here.
Getting to the stadium
The stadium is in the southern part of the city, and getting there requires a bit of planning.
The main route is via Metro plus Light Rail (Tren Ligero), which connects into the stadium area. It is efficient but extremely busy on matchdays, with packed trains and heavy queues very likely. We would highly advise using public transport.
Uber can also be used, although traffic near the stadium will be intense before and after matches, and even the drive from the main city centre areas can take around 90 minutes to two hours. Official shuttle services are expected to operate closer to the tournament.
On our visit they were actually busy building cycle lines to the stadium should you be brave and fit enough to give that a go.
The key advice here is simple: leave earlier than you think you need to. Then leave even earlier than that. Then accept you are still probably cutting it close. After the game, please do not expect to make it straight back to the airport or bus terminals for onward travel for some time, this will be extremely busy. If you have already booked, you may have to consider leaving the game early.
Security will be significant, with airport-style checks expected before entry. There will be two main entrances to the stadium that should be clearly signposted.
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere should be exceptional. Mexican fans are among the most passionate in world football, and combined with travelling supporters and the scale of the venue, this could easily be one of the standout atmospheres of the entire tournament.
Again, be aware of the altitude. Even walking up stairs inside the stadium can feel more demanding than expected, especially if you’ve already had a long day and a couple of beers.
Hydration is not optional here. It is part of survival.
Eating and drinking
Mexico City is one of the best food cities in the world, and that is not an exaggeration. You can eat incredibly well here at almost every price point, from street corners to world-renowned restaurants.
The main hubs for travelling supporters will almost certainly be Roma and Condesa. These are neighbouring districts full of bars, cafés, parks, restaurants and nightlife, and they will likely become the unofficial base camp for many fans.
Roma is busier and trendier, Condesa is slightly greener and more relaxed, but both are packed with places to eat and drink. Street tacos are everywhere, and honestly, they are one of the main reasons people come back from Mexico City slightly annoyed that nowhere else in the world do they taste quite the same.
Polanco is the more polished, upscale part of the city, with high-end restaurants, cocktail bars and luxury hotels. It is very safe, very clean, and very expensive, even more so for the last one of those during the tournament.
The Historic Centre around the Zócalo is both traditional and chaotic in the best way. Street food, historic buildings, markets, live music and constant activity make it one of the most atmospheric parts of the city.
Food is a huge part of life here. Street food in particular is excellent, use a bit of common sense when picking: busy stalls, hot food cooked in front of you, and queues of locals are usually the best indicators. Tacos al pastor, birria tacos, tamales, elote and churros are all essential experiences.
Nightlife is equally varied, from relaxed cantinas to rooftop bars in Polanco to late-night venues in Roma and Condesa that seem to operate on entirely different time zones to everyone else.
And importantly for travelling supporters, prices are generally far more reasonable than most US host cities, which will feel like a pleasant relief after the shock places like New York or Miami.
Things to see and do
Mexico City has an almost overwhelming amount to see and do, and even a short stay barely scratches the surface.
The Historic Centre and Zócalo is the natural starting point. One of the largest public squares in the world, surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, colonial architecture and constant street life, it is one of those places where you can simply stand still and watch the city move around you. Albeit during the tournament this is likely to be predominately taken over by a Fan Festival.
The National Museum of Anthropology is one of the best museums in the Americas, filled with Aztec and Mayan artefacts, giant stone sculptures and exhibits that make you realise how little most people were taught about pre-Columbian history at school.
Chapultepec Park is enormous and functions as the city’s green lung, containing lakes, museums, walking areas and Chapultepec Castle, which offers excellent views across the skyline.
If you have time, Teotihuacán is a must. Around an hour outside the city, this ancient site features the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, and climbing them at altitude is an experience you will not forget, even if your legs briefly file a complaint afterwards.
Football fans may also want to explore Club América, Cruz Azul or Pumas UNAM territory, depending on schedules. Even outside matchdays, football culture is everywhere in the city.
Finally, and possibly saving the best until last, we would definitely recommend a trip to Es de época, a vintage football shirt shop with hundreds of shirts to browse. You can watch various games here too, or even play FIFA or Subbuteo.
FIFA Fan Zone
The official FIFA Fan Festival will be at Zócalo, the huge city centre square outside the Cathedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Mexico. Shakira recently performed a concert here, completely free of charge, where around 400,000 people turned up to watch.
Expect giant screens, music, food stalls, sponsor activations and huge crowds, especially during Mexico matches. It will be loud, busy and completely unmissable, in every sense of the phrase.
British Embassy
The British Embassy in Mexico City will provide consular support throughout the tournament alongside FCDO staff.
Address: Paseo de la Reforma, Av. P.º de la Reforma 350-Piso 20, Juárez, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 1670 3200
As always, keep passports secure, make copies of important documents, and avoid overestimating your ability to negotiate your way through a complicated night out at altitude. An important reminder on passports, if you lose yours and have to apply for an Emergency Travel Document, you will not be allowed into the United States on the ETD, you will have to travel home to get a new passport.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Mexico City is generally more affordable than US host cities, but prices will still rise significantly during the World Cup, particularly around Mexico matches and knockout games.
Roma and Condesa will be the most popular areas for travelling supporters thanks to their balance of location, nightlife and walkability. Polanco offers more luxury and safety but at a higher cost, while the Historic Centre is best for atmosphere and sightseeing.
One important thing to remember is scale. Mexico City is huge, and staying in the “wrong” part of town can mean long travel times even if it looks close on a map. Proximity to Metro or reliable Uber access matters almost as much as the hotel itself.
Overall, Mexico City is one of the most exciting, intense and unforgettable host cities at this World Cup. It is chaotic, historic, enormous, passionate and occasionally overwhelming in the best possible way.
