This will be the third time La Perla del Occidente (Pearl of the West) has played host to World Cup matches (after Mexico 1970 and Mexico 1986) and once again this vibrantly creative cradle of Mexican culture is hoping to woo the world with its richly diverse offering of music, gastronomy, and cultural traditions.
What does it mean for Guadalajara to be one of the three Mexican host cities of the 2026 World cup alongside Mexico City and Monterrey?
MFH – It means an opportunity to show the entire world that Jalisco is THE most Mexican destination. That it’s a diverse and exciting state that offers a cultural big city experience in Guadalajara, but also boasts the beautiful beaches of Puerto Vallarta and the Costa Alegre (Happy Coast), and twelve charming towns known as Pueblos Mágicos.
For those coming to enjoy the World Cup this summer, Jalisco is definitely the place to be.
You say Jalisco is the most Mexican destination. Why is that?
MFH – Whenever we travel abroad and we say, with great pride, that we are from Mexico, people always ask us about Tequila, mariachis, charros (Mexican cowboys with wide-brimmed sombreros), and tacos. All of these are from Jalisco. Tequila is one hundred percent from Jalisco. Mariachi music was born in Jalisco.
So Tequila, the spirit synonymous with Mexico, comes from Jalisco?
MFH – Yes. We also have raicilla (another agave spirit), which is from the coast around Puerto Vallarta and in the Sierra mountains but tequila, which is famous around the world, comes from Jalisco, from the the town of Santiago de Tequila, the birthplace of this world-famous blue agave spirit.
What is the best way to enjoy the full tequila experience in Jalisco?
MFH – Just imagine taking the historic Jose Cuervo Express train from Guadalajara to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Santiago de Tequila and immersing yourself in the culture and traditions of tequila. It is a unique experience that combines a train journey through the agave plantations, mariachi music, charro horse shows, and a tasting session to explore every kind of tequila. Everybody who loves the taste of tequila should take the tequila train once in their life.
Jalisco is also the birthplace of many of the Mexican icons that we know and love, like the mariachi legend Vicente Fernandez.
MFH - Yes, Vicente Fernandez and his son Alejandro Fernandez are just two of the mariachi music legends born in Jalisco. But we have rockers too. The guys in Maná, Mexico’s most iconic rock band, are from Guadalajara.
Jalisco has also produced sporting greats like the boxer Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez, and the professional golf champion Lorena Ochoa, and from the world of cinema, we have a director Guillermo del Toro, and Y tu mamá también actor Gael Garcia Bernal, both proud tapatios (from Guadalajara). There are so many icons who are proud ambassadors of Jalisco.
When it comes to football, Guadalajara is known for its passionate fans and their love for the beautiful game. Guadalara-born striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernández is considered by many to be Mexico's greatest ever player, and Guadalajara is also home to Chivas (Club Deportivo Guadalajara) the only club in Mexico to field only "puros Mexicanos" (pure Mexicans) - although it does include Mexican-Americans born the United States. With such passionate local fans, the atmosphere is bound to be electric in the stadium.
MFH – The Estadio Akron was purpose built with the World Cup in mind. Out of the three Mexican regions participating in the FIFA World Cup this summer, only Jalisco can proudly say we have 12 Pueblos Magicos to explore and almost 400 km of coast, which means that for the World Cup we will not only have the exciting fanfest activities planned for visitors coming to watch the matches in Guadalajara but a whole host of other activities to encourage them to stay and explore the rest of Jalisco,
We can’t talk about Mexico without talking food. What delicious delights should visitors seek out in Jalisco and what is your guilty pleasure when it comes to street food?
MFH – I love our tacos, the incredible variety of tacos. The best tacos are definitely from Jalisco. In Guadalajara, the San Juan de Dios market is amazing and a must visit for foodies. It is the largest covered market in Latin America and you can find all the best street food favourites there. But we also have award winning gourmet restaurants and top chefs. There is something for everybody.
What is the must-try dish for anybody visiting Guadalajara for World Cup 2026?
MFH – A popular local dish is carne en su jugo [strips of steak simmered into a hearty stew with crispy bacon and pinto beans]. But without doubt, our most iconic street food dish is the torta ahogada [a ‘drowned sandwich’ – a crusty birote bread roll filled with carnitas (fried pork) slathered in tomato sauce, and lashings of chile sauce]. It can get messy so you need to roll up your sleeves and learn the local way of eating it but it is an unforgettable experience.
Getting back to the music, what is the one song that should be the theme song for World Cup 2026 in Guadalajara?
MFH – There are so many mariachi classics for Jalisco and the capital Guadalajara. They are powerful songs that stay with you all your life and are ingrained in our DNA. But if there is one legendary mariachi standard that stands out for its celebration of who we are it is the song Guadalajara, with the line ‘Guadalajara tienes el alma mas mexicana’ (Guadalajara you have the most Mexican soul).
The FIFA World 2026 tournament will be shared between North American hosts Canada, Mexico and the USA. The first game will be played on 11 June and the World Cup Final on 19 July. Four World Cup matches will be played in Guadalajara's Akron Stadium on the 11th, 18th, 23rd and 28th of June.
Russell Maddicks is a travel writer, author and co-author of guidebooks covering the Balearic Islands, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela. His latest book Culture Smart! Costa Rica was published on 22 January. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @LatAmTravelist.
