World Cup Teams Eye Mexican Caribbean for Training Base

Cancún, Mexico — The Mexican Caribbean is emerging as one of the options to host national soccer teams during their preparation for the 2026 World Cup, after Portugal, South Africa and Spain conducted evaluation visits to Cancún and the Riviera Maya.

The state’s tourism secretary, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, confirmed that both the teams from Portugal and South Africa have already toured hotel and sports facilities at the base hotels, Moon Palace in Cancún and Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya, as possible sites for concentration and training prior to the world tournament. Spain would be the other team interested in establishing a base in the state.

The strategy seeks to position Cancún as a gateway to the World Cup, taking advantage of the connectivity of Cancún International Airport with host cities in Mexico and the United States, as well as proximity to destinations such as Houston, Dallas, Miami and Atlanta, where tournament matches will be played.

Although no definitive decision exists yet, the teams must define their headquarters before January 6, so during December efforts are intensifying for Quintana Roo to be included among the official base camps of the World Cup.

Regarding the visits by the different teams, Cueto Riestra said that the State Government supports the strategy with a comprehensive logistics and security scheme, in coordination with the Secretariat of Citizen Security, to guarantee optimal conditions for the sports delegations.

In addition to hotel infrastructure, the state’s tourist complexes continue to invest in specialized sports facilities and high-performance gyms, key elements to attract international teams.

He emphasized that without being a match venue, Quintana Roo seeks to join the World Cup party, attracting both teams and fans, and consolidating the Mexican Caribbean as a strategic destination during the 2026 World Cup.