Puerto Vallarta’s long-awaited Terminal 2 will not be completed in time for the 2026 World Cup, despite expectations that the city could receive visitors extending their stay from host cities like Guadalajara.
Martín Pablo Zazueta Chávez, Director of Airports and Regulated Business for Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), explained that large international events such as the World Cup require additional measures, including more security personnel and new technologies to handle passenger flow. Airports in host cities, especially Guadalajara, will see a significant surge in traffic from fans, delegations, and FIFA officials.
“It’s difficult to give exact figures right now,” Zazueta said. “The match draw on December 5 will determine which teams play in each city. What we do know is that Mexico is a soccer-loving country, and we expect a major influx of visitors in host cities like Guadalajara.”
Authorities estimate that 2.5 million visitors will arrive in Guadalajara during the tournament, many of whom are likely to spend time in Puerto Vallarta and Jalisco’s nearby Magical Towns. However, the Vallarta airport expansion remains under construction and will only be ready by the end of 2026.
“Terminal 2 is under development. While it doesn’t directly affect the World Cup since Vallarta is not a host city, it will still attract visitors who decide to vacation here after attending matches in Guadalajara or Monterrey. By next year, Vallarta will have one of the most modern and iconic terminals in Mexico, equipped with state-of-the-art technology,” Zazueta added.
The new terminal, spanning more than 89,000 square meters, will expand passenger capacity to 10 million annually. With an investment of over 10 billion pesos, the project represents not only a major step in infrastructure but also a vision for the future of tourism in Puerto Vallarta.