Just a few days before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the world's main airline association issued a warning about one of the key points for millions of fans: the Mexico City International Airport (AICM).

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) considers that the air terminal could have difficulties absorbing the enormous flow of passengers that will arrive in the country during the tournament.

“We will probably see the Mexico City airport struggling to accommodate the World Cup,” said Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, during the organization's annual meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

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Why is the AICM concerned?

The AICM is the main international gateway to Mexico and a fundamental piece for the logistics of the World Cup. However, the terminal has been operating under saturation conditions for years. Currently, the airport is limited to 44 operations per hour, well below the 61 it managed previously. In addition, both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 maintain official declarations of saturation.

According to Walsh, the renovations carried out so far are insufficient to respond to the extraordinary demand that the World Cup will generate.

Millions of travelers and a historic challenge

Mexico will host matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, in addition to the inaugural match at the Azteca Stadium.

The logistical challenge is enormous: the 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 participating teams and the arrival of millions of fans is expected in the United States, Mexico and Canada. For Mexico City, that means testing an airport that is already operating close to its operating limits.

Works against the clock

The Mexican authorities promoted a remodeling program of the AICM with million-dollar investments to modernize facilities, improve waiting areas and optimize the passenger experience.

However, some travelers have reported delays, work in progress and temporary disruptions while construction continues.

The airport itself has recently defended that the improvements are progressing according to the planned schedule and that it will be ready to meet the additional demand of the tournament.

What it means for those who will travel to the World Cup

For now, IATA has not asked fans to modify their travel plans. However, experts recommend taking additional precautions:

The World Cup promises to be a great party for Mexico. But before the ball rolls, one of the biggest challenges could be on dry land: getting millions of people to stadiums on time.