Mexico City — Mexico has approved reforms to its tourism law aimed at combating child sex tourism ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring an estimated five million visitors to the country.
The Chamber of Deputies passed the amendments on March 3 with 463 votes in favor. The revised Article 58 now requires tourism service providers to request official identification from tourists at hotels, airlines, ground passenger transport services, and recreational and sports boats.
“If tourists do not present official identification, the establishment may deny service and, if there are indications of possible criminal activity, must immediately inform the competent authorities,” states the approved measure.
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, with matches also scheduled in Guadalajara and Monterrey. The tournament is expected to generate approximately 60 billion pesos in economic activity for Mexico.
Authorities warn that the influx of mostly male visitors could also fuel illicit child exploitation networks. While precise statistics are difficult to obtain due to the clandestine nature of the crime, investigative reports indicate coastal destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco have the highest prevalence of transnational child trafficking networks.
According to the International Labour Organization, commercial sexual exploitation of children occurs when individuals or groups involve minors in sexual activities for economic or other compensation, with sex tourism being one common modality.
The federal government has announced Operation Kukulkán, a security strategy that will deploy 100,000 personnel to protect Mexico’s three World Cup host cities. The task force leader said authorities will target organized crime activities including illegal trafficking of substances, people, weapons, and explosives.
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