Cancún to Host 122 Swimmers From 37 Countries at Open Water World Cup

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún will welcome 122 swimmers from 37 countries on November 6 and 7 for the opening leg of the World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup 2026/27, bringing the international series back to Mexico after more than a decade.

The field is split evenly between 61 men and 61 women. Foreign athletes account for 100 of the entries, or 82 percent, while 22 Mexicans make up the remaining 18 percent. One Quintana Roo swimmer is on the national delegation and will compete at home against the international field.

Among the countries sending competitors are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Venezuela, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany, Israel, Turkey, Switzerland, Poland, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Ecuador, the Czech Republic and Mexico.

The 10-kilometer races for men and women are scheduled for November 6, with the 3-kilometer events set for November 7.

Organizers point to local impact

Jacobo Arzate Hop, president of the Quintana Roo Sports Commission (CODEQ), said hosting the event for a second time gives the state another chance to showcase itself on the global sporting stage and to inspire a new generation of swimmers. His comments followed a meeting with Rommel Pacheco, director of Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE).

“Beyond the competition, the arrival of this event is an opportunity for girls, boys and young people to get closer to high-performance sport, meet world-class athletes and find inspiration to develop their own talent,” Arzate said.

Aquatics México organized the event together with CONADE and CODEQ, while the tourism, sports and culture promoter PROTUDEC is handling operations. Organizers credited Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa’s administration with attracting high-level competitions to the state.

Five-stop season ahead

The 2026/27 World Cup season consists of five legs. After Cancún, the series moves to Somabay, Egypt, on March 19 and 20, 2027, followed by a third venue still to be confirmed on April 23 and 24, 2027. The Gulf of Aranci in Italy hosts the fourth leg from April 30 to May 1, 2027, and the season closes in Setúbal, Portugal, on May 28 and 29, 2027.