Alert for intense rains in northeast and central Mexico

Hotel occupancy during the opening match of the Soccer World Cup reached just 65%, well below the 80% to 100% that was projected, according to the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (Coparmex) in Mexico City.

“These figures still do not correspond to the extraordinary scenario that had been announced,” the organization said in a statement.

Furthermore, Coparmex reported that there is no official consolidated information on the number of international tourists who have arrived for the event or what their average spending has been.

“The original estimates of 5.5 million additional visitors and more than 60 billion pesos in revenue continue to be goals, not proven results,” he reiterated.

Impact on small businesses

The confederation considered it worrying that the economic impact is concentrated in large hotel chains and tourist corridors, leaving aside small businesses, which have faced blockages and a decrease in customers.

The effects in the Historic Center and intervened areas show that an event of this magnitude can generate losses when there is no compensation and commercial continuity strategy.

For Coparmex, the success of the World Cup is not measured only by full stadiums; Real data is required such as the increase in hotel occupancy, sales for small businesses, formal jobs, mobility and security for all municipalities.

The organization said it was willing to collaborate with the authorities through dialogue.

“Measures such as the home office, closures or modifications to schedules can be useful at specific times, but they should not become the permanent solution to structural deficiencies in mobility and public services,” he warned.

Finally, he reiterated that the event should be an opportunity for growth, not just an “international showcase,” and that the capital’s problems should not be hidden or their costs passed on to residents and companies.

First robotic liver transplant in a minor

The Naval Medical Center (CEMENAV), of the Navy Secretariat, successfully performed the first liver transplant on a three-year-old girl. The intervention combined hepatectomy assisted by the Da Vinci robotic system, a watershed in highly complex surgery.

The procedure was possible thanks to the joint work between the Ministry of Health, the National Transplant Center (CENATRA) and CEMENAV, with the support of international specialists. Semar highlighted that this achievement strengthens the use of cutting-edge technology in the Mexican health system.

“This advance reflects the commitment of the institutions to promote technological innovation, improve capabilities and expand access to highly specialized procedures,” the agency said in a statement.

Robotic surgery allows for greater precision, less invasiveness, and a faster recovery for the donor. Transplantation opens new possibilities for treating liver diseases in minors, positioning Mexico as a benchmark in pediatric surgical innovation.

Four decades after its first experience as a World Cup host, Monterrey once again hosts the most important national team tournament. This Sunday, the Monterrey capital hosts the match between Sweden and Tunisia, corresponding to matchday 4 of the 2026 World Cup.

World Cup atmosphere in the streets

From early on, the football atmosphere was felt in key parts of the city. The Macroplaza and the Old Town received dozens of foreign visitors who took advantage of the morning to tour the most emblematic sites.

The Swedish followers were the most numerous and visible. Wearing their traditional yellow t-shirts, they walked through the center, visited restaurants and shopped in the artisan corridor. The Tunisian fans, although in smaller numbers, also contributed color and took photographs in the tourist area.

One of the most striking moments occurred in the Old Town, where Swedish and Tunisian fans improvised a pull-up competition. The activity attracted tourists and locals, who came to participate in the atmosphere prior to the meeting.

As the afternoon progresses, much of this activity will move to the Fan Fest at Parque Fundidora, where other games will be played. Later, thousands of fans will make their way to the stadium to watch the duel that closes the day.

Monterrey looks ready to receive visitors from all over the world. The city, which already hosted the World Cup in 1986, demonstrates its organizational capacity and its passion for football.