The World Cup that is being played from now on
Less than one hundred days before the opening whistle of the 2026 FIFA Cup, the federal government is already running on the field. But not to organize parties, but to build the so-called ‘Social World Cup’.
The head of Sedatu, Edna Vega, presented this Thursday the first concrete advances. The plan is ambitious: 1,200 fields in 29 states of the country.
“We have already started the construction of 265 fields in 23 entities, in 114 municipalities,”
Vega detailed during the morning conference. Of that total, 800 will be completely new works and 400 will consist of rehabilitations. Mass delivery would begin in May.
What is crucial here is the long-term vision. It’s not just cement and synthetic grass.
A legacy that goes beyond the goal
President Claudia Sheinbaum made the bet clear. The goal is for the tournament to leave more than just memories and tourism.
“The objective is that the World Cup is not only the time for matches, but that a seedbed scheme really remains in the country,”
Sheinbaum explained. The idea is to create spaces where children and young people can play and, who knows, maybe the next star of the National Team will emerge from there.
Gabriela Cuevas, Mexican representative in the organization of the event, reinforced the message. For her, these fields are much more than sports facilities.
“It is a fundamental tool for building peace, building community and transmitting the values that football has,”
Cuevas highlighted.
It is an interesting political move. While the world looks to stadiums and hotels, Mexico is trying to score an early goal in social development and community infrastructure. The real game begins now, in the streets and neighborhoods where these fields are built. The final score on its real impact will be seen years after the last game ends.
