A Year Before 2026 World Cup, Tickets and VIP Experiences Now Available
After 40 years, the FIFA World Cup is returning to Mexico City in 2026, promising a revolutionary edition. The Azteca Stadium is set to host the opening match, with its remodeling process already incorporating areas for VIP experiences operated by On Location.
On Location launched as the official hospitality provider for all 16 World Cup stadiums, where the 104 matches will be distributed among Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The company has previously provided VIP experiences in Mexico City for the last two NFL games and a UFC event in March, but they believe more awareness is needed.
Leah Linke, On Location’s Senior Vice President of Production
“I wouldn’t say Mexico is the most difficult country to introduce On Location, but it’s certainly the one that knows the least about what we do. I don’t think fans are accustomed to hospitality; they usually just buy a ticket. We’re offering much more, wanting to show that we are more than just a ticket. I wouldn’t say it’s the most difficult country, but once they see and understand it, they will buy into it.”
Leah Linke spoke with El Economista during the presentation, declining to share any figures related to the number of hospitality packages sold or the operational costs within a stadium.
- On Sales Figures: Linke did not disclose the number of hospitality packages sold a year before the World Cup. She mentioned that her sales team reports that multi-game series packages are the most popular.
- Mexican Fan Behavior: Linke expressed interest in understanding Mexican fan behavior regarding experience purchases but noted that they are still in the launch phase in Mexico and expect to see trends emerge soon.
Linke also discussed On Location’s active involvement in the Azteca Stadium’s remodeling process.
- Local Team Collaboration: On Location has a local team working with the stadium to ensure renovations align with their desired hospitality operations. They aim to maintain high standards, including locally sourced food, and are currently collaborating with a few companies regarding architectural space allocation.
- FIFA Support: FIFA wants to ensure that all operations are streamlined and don’t overcrowd spaces. On Location is working closely with them to meet these requirements.
Multi-Country Operation Challenges
“Operating across three countries presents challenges. Our responsibility is hospitality locations, utilizing local companies. Fans will purchase packages for Mexico, the United States, and Canada. We aim to be as consistent as possible, relying on local experts to inform us about expectations and how to meet them. We gained valuable experience managing multi-venue events during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where we worked with 23 different venues and both local and international providers.”
The 2026 World Cup, a one-of-a-kind event, is expected to surpass expectations for VIP experiences set by On Location, more than the Super Bowl or Coachella Music Festival.
