Fan Guide to Guadalajara

Make the most of your match week in Guadalajara: see more, stress less.

Introduction

Guadalajara for World Cup 2026 Visitors

Guadalajara brings big-city energy with a historic core that’s walkable between plazas, markets and museums—ideal for filling the hours between World Cup fixtures. Start in Centro Histórico for the twin-towered cathedral and neoclassical Teatro Degollado, then fan out to leafy cultural corridors like Chapultepec and Colonia Americana for galleries, cafés and nightlife. The metro area also spans character-rich satellite cities—Zapopan and Tlaquepaque—known for basilicas, plazas and craft studios. Orientation is simple: the cathedral anchors downtown; Avenida Chapultepec runs just west; Tlaquepaque’s pedestrian heart sits to the southeast; and Estadio Akron, the tournament venue, rises in Zapopan to the west. Local transport is straightforward via Mi Tren (light rail) and Mi Macro BRT, with visitor guidance centralized by the city DMO. Expect June–July afternoons to be warm with a chance of seasonal showers; evenings trend comfortable for plaza strolling and late dinners.

Fast Facts

Population (city/entidad): 1,385,629
Time zone: Central Time (UTC−6)
Airports: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport (GDL).
Currency: United States Dollar (USD).
Power & voltage: 120 V/60 Hz; plug types A & B are standard.
Weather snapshot (June–July): Warm season with average highs in the upper-20s °C/low-30s °C and seasonal rains; local academic station normals published by the University of Guadalajara’s meteorology institute.
Language: Spanish
Drinking age: 18

The Pitch

Estadio Akron

Estadio Akron (Guadalajara). The Chivas home ground sits on the western edge of the metro in Zapopan, with a bowl wrapped by a signature grass-berm “volcano” and a continuous canopy over the seating bowl. For 2026, Guadalajara hosts four FIFA World Cup matches at this venue. Stadium information and operations are managed by the club/stadium operator; fan transport on matchdays is augmented by special feeder and Park & Ride services.

Stadium Basics

Location: Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Jalisco (official stadium complex).
Surface: Natural grass (updated turf variety optimized for shade at Estadio Akron).
Getting there: Mi Macro Periférico (Estadio Chivas stop) and event-day feeder/park-and-ride services coordinated by club and local authorities.
Bag policy & payments: Stadium lists prohibited items and house rules (check “Estadio Seguro”); the venue has moved to cashless concessions via the club’s system.

Full stadium details

Match dates in Guadalajara

June 11, 2026 — Group Stage
June 18, 2026 — Group Stage
June 23, 2026 — Group Stage
June 26, 2026 — Group Stage

Inside Guadalajara

Districts & Vibes

Start in Centro Histórico for the cathedral-to-theater walk and museum time; then hop west into Colonia Americana/Chapultepec, a creative corridor of cafés, galleries and nightlife that hums from afternoon to late. Cap the day in Zapopan Centro, where the basilica and surrounding plazas turn golden at dusk (and it’s a straight shot toward the stadium precinct). Alternatively, pair Centro with Tlaquepaque: its car-free heart and ceramic studios make for an easy gallery and courtyard-lunch loop before evening kickoffs. The city DMO’s neighborhood guides help you map these combos in under 30 minutes on Mi Tren or Mi Macro.

Global Eats, Local Pours

Guadalajara’s Food & Drink Hit List

For a fast, flavor-first sweep, graze the monumental Mercado San Juan de Dios (Mercado Libertad)—multi-level food stalls serve tortas ahogadas, birria and sweets under one roof. Pair it with a Chapultepec wander where cafés, patios and bars cluster along the namesake avenue in Colonia Americana. In Tlaquepaque, the pedestrian core around Andador Independencia stacks regional kitchens and craft shops in converted mansions; it’s an easy half-day with lunch, gallery stops and a plaza coffee. Prefer one address with everything? Contemporary lifestyle centers in Zapopan (near Estadio Akron) add big-patio options for pre- and post-game hangs. Use the DMO’s neighborhood pages to string markets by day and terraces by night—no reservations needed for a casual crawl.

Iconic Guadalajara

Must-Sees Between Matches

Center your stroll on the Catedral de Guadalajara and its surrounding cross of plazas, then duck into the 19th-century Teatro Degollado for a look at one of Jalisco’s emblem venues. A few blocks east, Hospicio Cabañas (Instituto Cultural Cabañas) anchors a UNESCO-listed complex with towering Orozco murals, while the Rotonda de las y los Jaliscienses Ilustres and Plaza de la Liberación keep the civic story in view. To reset under the trees, head north to Bosque Los Colomos, a favorite urban forest; or south toward Parque Agua Azul near the historic core. Outside downtown, the Basílica de Zapopan fronts a lively plaza, and Tlaquepaque’s Andador Independencia lines up galleries and mariachi-friendly courtyards. These are the easy wins within a short rideshare or transit hop of the center—perfect before an evening match.

Discover Guadalajara Through

Local Experiences & Tours

Classic narrated sightseeing comes via Tapatío Tour double-decker buses linking Centro, Zapopan and Tlaquepaque with hop-on loops and commentary—useful between fixtures when you want easy transit plus context. For regional flavor, the José Cuervo Express rail experience runs from Guadalajara to the Pueblo Mágico of Tequila with guided tastings and ranch visits (book directly with the operator). Inside the city, museums add docent-led options: Teatro Degollado offers cultural programming and guided access, while Instituto Cultural Cabañas schedules tours of its Orozco murals. For self-guided time, city and state cultural sites publish walking resources that connect plazas, public art and parks—handy when you’d rather meander at your pace.

Keep the Party Going

Fan-Friendly Nightlife

Keep it concentrated: Avenida Chapultepec and Colonia Americana deliver a dense strip of bars, patios and music venues that come alive post-match. In Tlaquepaque, the pedestrian zone rings with live mariachi and open-air cantinas around Jardín Hidalgo and El Parián. Near the venue, Zapopan’s plazas and mixed-use districts supply pre-game meetups and late snacks without the cross-town trek. The DMO’s neighborhood and transportation pages spotlight these clusters, letting you ride Mi Tren/Mi Macro to the action and rideshare back. Always verify venue hours on operator pages, especially on match days when schedules flex.