• 'The rush for the World Cup and the pressure to ‘beautify’ the city is so great that they are bypassing every possible environmental law,' says environmental defender Andrea Villarreal
• 'I think we are catering to the wrong audience ... We want to claim the medal for doing something extraordinary, when we still lack the most ordinary things,' says mobility activist Miriam Torres

MONTERREY, Mexico

In Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, large billboards line the sidewalks welcoming visitors to the Corredor Mundialista (World Cup Corridor). The signs display a map of the city’s “Green Corridor” project, an initiative intended to promote pedestrian mobility.

Yet a tour of the neighborhoods surrounding BBVA Stadium, which will host World Cup matches next year, reveals a different reality. Streets are riddled with potholes, pedestrian crossings are dangerous, and there is a clear lack of infrastructure for alternative transportation, such as cycling.

Monterrey and its metropolitan area are grappling with deep mobility challenges. What began as a series of issues has escalated into a full-blown crisis, now ranking as the top concern for residents in local polls. As one of Mexico’s three host cities for next year’s FIFA World Cup, authorities are racing to complete a massive infrastructure overhaul ahead of the tournament.

“I think they’re making arrangements for the World Cup,” said Angel Mario Ochoa, a 66-year-old lifelong resident of Guadalupe. He told Anadolu that for more than three years, neighbors had demanded the municipality fix the potholes, only to be ignored. Three months ago, he finally saw the street repairs begin.

“We are going to fix everything to a world-class standard: streetlights, signage, sidewalks, pothole repairs, paving, security, public transport, buses, and the metro,” said Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia during an event promoting the Green Corridor in Guadalupe.

Garcia emphasized that the infrastructure improvements would remain for residents long after the tournament’s 40-day run. “I envision a beautiful Guadalupe to show off to the world,” he added.

However, as residents struggle with long commutes and unreliable transit, activists and experts are sounding the alarm. They warn that the costly infrastructure push is poorly conceived, ignores local needs, and is causing environmental damage in several areas.

“The rush for the World Cup and the pressure to ‘beautify’ the city is so great that they are bypassing every possible environmental law,” said Andrea Villarreal, an environmental defender.

Monorail along the Santa Catarina River

Of the 34 World Cup-related projects in Nuevo Leon, the new metro Lines 4 and 6 are the most striking. The government says the monorail will be the continent’s largest, extending the network from 38 to more than 80 kilometers (84.5 miles).

But as construction advances, financial overruns and rushed decision-making are raising concerns.

In October, local newspaper El Norte reported that construction of Line 4 damaged the drainage system on Constitucion Avenue, which runs alongside the Santa Catarina River. More than seven concrete pillars pierced the drainage duct, blocking water flow.

The collective Un Rio en el Rio (A river within the river) has been defending the river since 2023. That year, the city began clearing vegetation from the riverbed — officially to control flooding, though activists said the work conveniently aligned with plans for an elevated viaduct.

Vianney Lopez, a 23-year-old chemical engineering student, agrees the city urgently needs accessible transit but opposes the current approach. During a river walk organized by Un Rio en el Rio, Lopez stressed the importance of reconnecting residents with the waterway.

“People need to realize that it is more than just a space for a bridge to pass over,” she said.

The collective has revealed that construction on Line 4 began without the required environmental impact assessment. The lines are being built by the Chinese-Portuguese consortium Mota-Engil, the same company behind the Maya Train, a project criticized for its environmental impact.

Activists say rubble has been dumped in the area, warning that the lack of cleanup threatens the river’s biodiversity and natural flow, especially during the rainy season. Nuevo Leon’s Secretariat of the Environment did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

“The failure to plan these projects in an integral, transparent way — with enough time and public consensus — means they are being built fast and badly. This isn’t because they want to meet people’s needs quickly, but because they want them finished for the World Cup,” Villarreal said.

While some groups acknowledge the government’s investment in public transport, many question whether funds are being directed toward real needs. President Claudia Sheinbaum said in early November that the federal government will support each host city with up to 2 billion pesos ($80 million) to boost public transport ahead of the event.

Luis Avila, director of Como Vamos — a citizen platform made up of social, academic, and business organizations — questioned whether new metro lines are the answer.

“Currently, the metro doesn’t move many people. Only about 1% of the population use it as their primary mode of transport, and 17% use it as a connecting service,” he said. “Unlike the bus, which is used by 50% of the population.”

Sprawling city, broken transit

More than 5 million people live in Nuevo Leon, with nearly 90% concentrated in the metropolitan area. Roberto Ponce, an urban planning expert at private research university Tec de Monterrey, said the region’s urban footprint continues to expand as population density falls, making efficient public transport harder to deliver.

“In a city this spread out, you need more units and more frequency,” he said. “That costs money, meaning your transport system is going to operate in the red.”

Since January, commuters have faced a 10-cent monthly fare increase, a measure set to run through August 2026 to keep the system financially viable.

Garcia has also announced plans to deploy 4,000 new buses. Avila noted that while the fleet grew from 2,350 buses at the start of the administration to 4,333 in 2024, “despite the announcements, only 50 more were added” in 2025. Nuevo Leon’s Secretariat of Transport did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Fernando Rodriguez, 36, knows the strain firsthand. He used to leave two hours early for his security job, and the return trip was just as long. If there was an accident, the commute could stretch to nearly three hours. Once he saved enough money, he bought a car.

Data from Como Vamos shows travel times have increased since 2021. By 2024, bus users were spending nearly three hours commuting daily, compared with 1 hour and 13 minutes for drivers.

“What’s the point of a new bus if you have to wait 31 minutes on the sidewalk to catch it? Especially when that sidewalk is in terrible condition and hard to reach in the first place,” said David Pulido, a member of Pueblo Bicicletero, a group promoting sustainable mobility.

Pulido argued that the government has failed to invest in essential infrastructure for walking and cycling, and other forms of alternative transport, despite requirements under the Mobility Law.

“I challenge anyone to name a single public transport stop … where you can actually get there safely walking or cycling,” he said.

While the government is advancing projects under the slogan “on time and in proper form,” doubts persist about readiness for the playoff matches in March. Mobility activist Miriam Torres questioned whether the deadlines will be met and suspects visitors will resort to ride-hailing apps.

Garcia has suggested declaring match days official holidays to ease traffic.

Torres acknowledged the intense scrutiny of hosting a World Cup, but questioned the government’s priorities.

“I think we are catering to the wrong audience,” she said. “We want to claim the medal for doing something extraordinary, when we still lack the most ordinary things.”