Cancún will open its main public World Cup watch site on Thursday at Malecón Tajamar. City and state officials say the free Cancún Fut Fest will offer a giant screen, seating, and food vendors.
The event starts June 11 at 2 p.m. Cancún time. The first broadcast is the World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa. Activities are scheduled through July 19, the final day of the tournament.
Mayor Ana Paty Peralta and Quintana Roo Gov. Mara Lezama reviewed final work at Tajamar on Wednesday. The municipal announcement said the site will be alcohol-free and will feature bleachers, chairs, food areas, and match-day activities.
“We are ready to welcome everyone to experience this World Cup celebration here at Malecón Tajamar,” Peralta said.
What people will find at Tajamar
Tajamar is being used as Cancún’s central World Cup public viewing zone. The city is not hosting official matches. Mexico’s games are in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Cancún has continued to build its role as a World Cup gateway because of its airport, hotels, and direct links to host cities.
The giant screen had already been installed as crews finished work at the site. Officials also placed themed soccer balls at Malecón Tajamar, Plaza de la Reforma, Parque de las Palapas, Playa Langosta, and Playa Delfines.
State officials said the broader Fut Fest del Caribe Mexicano program will run at six locations in Quintana Roo. The state announcement lists Malecón Tajamar in Cancún, Playa Centro in Isla Mujeres, Cozumel’s Explanada de la Bandera, Tulum’s municipal palace esplanade, Bacalar’s main park, and two sites in Chetumal.
Lezama said Quintana Roo was ready to “live the emotion of the World Cup.” In the same statement, she said the state would become “a great field of encounter, joy and coexistence” from north to south.
Security and crowd control
The city said more than 100 personnel and 16 units will be assigned to the Cancún event. Agencies listed include Civil Protection, Firefighters, Citizen Security, Transit, and municipal traffic officials.
An earlier drill at Malecón Tajamar tested the response to a simulated screen collapse during a World Cup broadcast. That exercise included 98 emergency personnel and 19 vehicles.
The Cancún event joins a wider public-viewing push across Mexico as the World Cup 2026 calendar begins. The tournament runs through July 19, with Mexico sharing hosting duties with the United States and Canada.
