The AICM will not be ready to play in the 2026 World Cup.

The general director of Mexico City International Airport (AICM) , Admiral Juan Padilla Olmos , warned that the country's main airport will not complete the remodeling works due to obstacles caused by the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) .

"We would like to be more prepared, but we're going to be very prepared. There's one issue: the new airport project (AIFA) has stalled a bit, but we're just in time," the director of the Benito Juárez International Airport said in an interview.

The renovation of the AICM for the World Cup began late due to the priority budget raised by the AIFA, and this will mean that it will not be completed by the start of the sporting event, as the president promised.

The renovation, mostly cosmetic, formally began on April 1, but will have to be halted during the sporting event.

According to information from the country's main airport, the construction and supervision work, which was also awarded directly after a restricted invitation, will be paused between May 31 and July 31, 2026. Work will begin on August 1 and is expected to be completed by November 17 of the same year.

"We have to learn to live with the issue of the remodeling, which is also important and, well, it will mean that passengers will allow us to be a little inconvenienced. It will be annoying for everyone, but it will leave us with better memories," added Padilla Olmos.

The cosmetic works for the two AICM terminals involve replacing the facade finishes, interior and exterior lighting, walls, ceilings, removing and replacing flooring, maintaining and preserving roof waterproofing, as well as detecting and repairing problems, deficiencies, and malfunctions in plumbing, electrical, CCTV, voice and data systems, automatic doors, and locks. The renovation of sanitary infrastructure and restroom equipment is also part of the project.