La Perla Tapatía · Mariachi Capital
Guadalajara 2026
Mexico's second-largest city hosts 4 group-stage matches at Estadio Akron — including two Mexico home fixtures (vs South Korea Jun 18, vs Czechia Jun 24), the tournament's second-ever match (South Korea vs Czechia Jun 11), and DR Congo vs Colombia Jun 23. The Akron is the home of Chivas Guadalajara — the most-loved club in Mexican football. The city itself is the birthplace of tequila, mariachi, and charrería (Mexican rodeo). Cleaner, calmer, and warmer than CDMX, with a colonial center, modernist architecture, and the world's tequila country a 1-hour drive west. US, EU, UK, JP, AU, NZ, CA passport-holders are visa-exempt for Mexico tourism — fill an FMM permit on arrival or online.
Stadium
Estadio Akron
49,800 cap · Zapopan
Matches
4
Group A + Group K
Population
5.2M metro
Mexico's 2nd-largest
Climate
18–29°C
June rainy season starts
Pre-Trip Checklist
Before You Fly
Six things to sort before you leave home. Mexico is one of the easiest WC 2026 host countries to enter — most foreign passport-holders are visa-exempt — but the FMM tourist permit, eSIM, and pesos-on-arrival are the three things first-time visitors most often miss.
Three different border-entry rules — don't confuse them. If you're a US, EU, UK, Japanese, Australian, NZ, or Canadian fan flying to Guadalajara: you need
only an FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) — free, fill online at
inm.gob.mx or on arrival.
US permanent residents (green card) are also FMM-only — passport from your country of citizenship + green card.
Travelers needing a Mexico tourist visa (most African, South Asian, and Middle Eastern passports) should apply at the nearest Mexican consulate
before flying.
Full visa guide ↗
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FMM tourist permit
Mexico requires every foreign tourist to fill an
FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) — free, valid 180 days. Most international airlines hand you a paper FMM in-flight, OR you can pre-fill online at
inm.gob.mx. Keep the stamped FMM with your passport — you must surrender it on departure or face a $50 USD fine.
No visa required for US, EU, UK, JP, KR, AU, NZ, CA passport holders.
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Passport & entry
Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay (Mexico doesn't enforce the 6-month rule, but check your airline's policy). At immigration, the officer may ask: where you're staying, return flight date, FIFA ticket. Have all three on your phone or printed. Mexican immigration sometimes writes a shorter stay (30-60 days) on the FMM at their discretion — politely request 90+ days if you need it.
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eSIM / mobile data
Mexican roaming on a foreign SIM is brutal — US carriers often charge
$10-12/day, EU carriers can be worse. Buy a
Mexico eSIM before you fly:
Airalo's "Mexicali Mexico" (Telcel network) — strong LTE/5G across Guadalajara core, weaker in tequila country. Pricing:
1 GB / 7 days = $4.50, 5 GB / 30 days = ~$13, 20 GB / 30 days = $35. Install before flight, activate when you land at GDL.
Get a Mexico eSIM ↗
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Currency & payments
Mexico uses the Mexican peso (MXN): $1 USD ≈ 17-19 MXN. Cards (tap-to-pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay) work in restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and Centro/Providencia/Andares; cash dominates in markets, street food (tortas ahogadas, birria), Tlaquepaque artisans, and most taxis. ATMs at Banorte, BBVA, Santander give the best rates — avoid airport currency-exchange counters. Tipping: 10-15% in restaurants.
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Guadalajara June weather
June in Guadalajara runs
18-29°C (65-84°F) — the
start of the rainy season means almost-daily afternoon thunderstorms (typically 4-7 PM, lasting 30-90 min). At 1,560m altitude (5,120 ft) the dry warmth is comfortable; sunny mornings then dramatic afternoon clouds. Pack a
light rain shell, sunscreen, and layers for evenings (drops to 18°C after sunset).
Full weather guide ↗
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Aduana customs limits
For tourist arrival you can bring duty-free: 3 liters of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, $500 USD in goods (or $300 by land). Strict rules on cash over $10,000 USD — must declare. Don't bring fresh produce, plants, raw meat, or seeds — Aduana confiscates and may fine. Returning home with tequila is fine within your home country's allowance (typically 1L); buy at the airport duty-free if you're cutting it close on suitcase weight.