Cancun, Quintana Roo — With less than three weeks until the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off, Cancun International Airport has significantly improved its immigration processing, reducing wait times and expanding automated controls for international visitors.
Sergio González Rubiera, president of the Mexican Association of Incoming Tourism Agencies (Amatur), said the improvements stem from intensive training for immigration and customs officers, as well as operational adjustments by the National Immigration Institute (INM) and airport operator ASUR.
The airport now operates 40 automated immigration filters and 54 traditional booths, with biometric e-gates installed in Terminals 3 and 4. The technology allows faster, more secure processing for arriving passengers.
“Everything has added up: the training we gave to immigration and customs agents, greater flexibility, and application of criteria,” González Rubiera said. “Regarding the electronic visa for Brazilians, we hope it remains and is not just for the World Cup.”
The INM has implemented a special plan to handle more than 5.5 million international visitors during the tournament. Over 900 immigration officials from 32 regional offices participated in a World Cup training program to streamline entry procedures.
Despite the airport upgrades, the hotel sector in the Mexican Caribbean faces challenges heading into summer. Occupancy projections remain below last year due to increased sargassum seaweed arrivals and reduced airline seat capacity.
González Rubiera acknowledged that illegal transport issues have decreased but said informal practices and touts still harm the destination’s image. “It has improved, but there are problems with informality and the presence of touts that affect the image. We have to keep working,” he said.
Cancun will also serve as the base camp for Uruguay’s national team during the World Cup, which begins June 11.
