The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, transcends what happens inside the stadium. At the Fan Festival in Mexico City's Constitution Square, informally known as the Zocalo, thousands of fans from all over the world have been gathering to watch the matches, share their passion for football, and experience the unique atmosphere.
The FIFA Fan Festival runs from June 11 to July 19. Attendees enjoy giant screen broadcasts, live music, and local cuisine from morning till night.
"I invite you to come to FanFest in Mexico. It's the best, the football vibes are great so you can support your favorite team. I love it, so much fun," said Lucy Salvador, a Mexican fan.
Among the crowds are fans from all over the world. Jerseys from Colombia, Germany, South Africa, and Argentina mingle with those of the Mexican national team. Some dance, others record videos, and many others watch on as one of the country's most iconic plazas transforms into a meeting point for football fans of different nationalities.
"We came to FanFest to celebrate with everyone who's here. Here at FanFest, you can find people from many countries, such as Colombians, South Korea and Japan. So, it's really fun to be here and see how football unites everyone," said Denilson Acevedo, another Mexican fan.
"It's beautiful, it's divine. Great energy. People from so many countries are supporting their teams. And well, it's spectacular. Thank you, Mexico!" said Daniel Garcia, a Colombian fan.
Mexico City has set up 18 other free broadcast zones distributed throughout the capital, where attendees can follow the games on giant screens and participate in locally organized cultural and recreational activities.
Mexico City's Zocalo Square transforms in to huge football party for 2026 World Cup
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) on Wednesday announced a pilot program to allow offshore RMB forex trading in the country's Shanghai Free Trade Zone, a step further opening up China's financial market.
The PBOC, China's central bank, rolled out the program along with a series of other financial reform and opening-up measures at the annual Lujiazui Forum in Shanghai, an important platform for China's financial authorities to release policy tools and international dialog on the country's financial market.
In addition to the pilot program, the PBOC will also work to improve the short-term interest rate regulation mechanism, create a repurchase tool for overseas central banks, aiming to better facilitate the high-quality economic development of China's financial market.
Other authorities also unveiled their new policy tools at the forum.
The National Financial Regulatory Administration will focus on tackling and preventing risks, handling risks of small and medium-sized financial institutions in an effective and orderly manner, and playing a supportive and cooperative role in resolving risks related to real estate and local government debts. The administration will also step up efforts to eliminate regulatory gaps and blind spots, and ensure full coverage with no exceptions.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission will expand the scope of the fifth set of criteria for the STAR Market to cover the field of artificial intelligence, orderly promote the deepening of the reform of the ChiNext board, deepen the reform of re-financing, launch the pilot programs for active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and real estate investment trusts (REITs), and accelerate the research and promotion of the pilot program for RMB foreign exchange futures.
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange will comprehensively reform the cross-border policies for foreign direct investment, further simplify the foreign exchange management of direct foreign investment and foreign debts, and issue a new batch of investment quotas for qualified domestic institutions to better promote the facilitation of cross-border financing and investment.
China's central bank rolls out pilot program for offshore RMB forex trading
