What is the purpose of a World Cup?

Guadalajara will host a World Cup for the third time in its history. While this time we're a smaller venue and only the first round of matches will be held, there are very few cities that have hosted a World Cup three times. In fact, only Mexico City will share the same status of having hosted three World Cups.

Beyond the record (which is useless), the question is what hosting a World Cup gives the city.

Based on the experience of previous World Cups, there's little or nothing left for the city after a World Cup beyond building its brand. Guadalajara will undoubtedly be better known worldwide after the tournament, although that benefit will largely depend on who gets to play in the host city.

In terms of infrastructure, previous World Cups left very little. The 1970 World Cup left us with a better stadium, a renovated and larger Jalisco, and a renovated Calzada Independencia. Beyond that, there were no significant investments.

The 1986 World Cup left nothing in the way of infrastructure. The rush to organize the World Cup after Colombia refused to host it, along with the earthquakes of September 1985, just months before the start of the tournament, left no time or resources for anything.

Both World Cups did feature some great parties. In the 1970 World Cup, Juárez-Vallarta Avenue, from downtown to the Minerva Stadium, became a parade route for cars shouting Mexico-Brazil to the rhythm of horns and trumpets. Guadalajara embraced the victory of the team led by Pelé and enjoyed it to the fullest. In 1986, the venue for the celebrations was López Mateos, from the Minerva Stadium, where the festivities and the wet parties were held, to Cubilete. Once again, thanks to Brazil, the nights of spontaneous batucada (drum-drum) bands (the government had nothing to do with these festivities) were the lifeblood of the World Cup.

In preparation for the upcoming World Cup, the state government has taken advantage of the opportunity to build a mass transit line to the airport (Line 5, they call it, which, for now, will be just an extension of the Peribús bus), and the municipal governments, particularly those of Guadalajara (the official headquarters) and Zapopan (the real headquarters), are taking advantage of the opportunity to once again spruce up their respective historic centers. This time in Guadalajara, the Plaza Tapatía will be given a facelift, which has been crying out for it for several years.

What's the point of a World Cup? The business will be small and for very few, as there won't be a large influx of tourists or money arriving during those two weeks. The 2026 World Cup won't be a turning point for the city, but it will leave a little more than previous World Cups, and if we take advantage of it, a great two weeks of celebration. That's what it's all about.