World Cup Broadcast Fees Sideline Some Restaurants in Quintana Roo

A restaurant in Cancun with a television screen displaying a World Cup football match

Cancun, Quintana Roo — High costs for broadcast licenses have prompted many restaurants in Quintana Roo to skip showing World Cup matches this year, according to the local restaurant industry association.

Perla Flores Navarro, president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (Canirac) in Cancun, said that establishments wishing to screen the games must purchase a license directly from the companies holding the broadcast rights.

While Canirac Nacional offers discount codes to its members, the benefits vary depending on each business’s characteristics. Flores acknowledged that the cost of these licenses can represent a significant investment for some establishments.

She warned that broadcasting matches without proper authorization could result in substantial fines.

Despite the challenges, Flores said the business organization recommends that restaurants make every effort to regularize their status and avoid legal risks during the world’s most important football event.

She emphasized that Canirac has kept its members informed about the measure implemented ahead of the World Cup.

Flores stated that Canirac plans to meet with authorities soon to discuss preventing similar measures in the future, as they have led many members to opt out of broadcasting the tournament.

“At Canirac, we will continue to inform our members and build bridges with private initiatives and governments to reach agreements. We are sure that only by working together can we move forward,” she concluded.

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By Laura Castillo

Laura Castillo covers tourism, business, and economic development across Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and the wider Riviera Maya. She curates and translates the region's most important business stories — from hotel investments and airline developments to local market trends — helping English-speaking readers stay informed about the economic pulse of Mexico's Caribbean coast.