Cancun, Quintana Roo — Governor Mara Lezama has announced the launch of “Fut Fest” at the Malecón Tajamar in Cancun, a free public event that will broadcast 50 matches from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, along with cultural and recreational activities for families.
The festival will kick off with Mexico’s opening match against South Africa at 2 p.m. at the Estadio Banorte, formerly known as Estadio Azteca.
“We’re going to enjoy a fan festival here at Malecón Tajamar. We’ll also have parties in the magical towns … and you’ll be able to watch the matches completely free,” Lezama said.
In addition to Cancun, similar World Cup festivals will be held in Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, and Tulum, aiming to bring the World Cup experience to those unable to attend the stadiums.
The governor explained that beach venues were ruled out due to logistical and security challenges posed by night matches. “We thought about it, because people ask, ‘Why not on the beach?’ But the matches are at night, and doing it at night on the beach was much more complicated,” she said.
Lezama emphasized that the main goal is to foster social and family bonding through sports. “The point is to build community, to enjoy time together as a family in a healthy way,” she said.
She also stressed that the events will focus on creating safe, violence-free environments, especially for women. “We want it to be a space where children, fathers, mothers can come and shout for a goal and say: let’s enjoy it,” she added.
The Fut Fest will also feature cultural activities, games, and interactive experiences for young people and families, as part of a strategy to turn public spaces into gathering points during the 2026 World Cup.
