Mexico City Launches AI Tourism Assistant Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Mexico City, Sunday, 22 March 2026.
Mexico City unveiled Xoli, a bilingual WhatsApp chatbot providing 24/7 tourist guidance as the city prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The AI assistant handles up to 5,000 daily cultural and recreational activities during peak seasons, offering real-time information on museums, restaurants, transportation, and World Cup events in both Spanish and English. Developed through collaboration between multiple government agencies, Xoli represents a strategic technological investment to manage the anticipated influx of international visitors and enhance Mexico City’s digital infrastructure for major events.
Technical Architecture and Access Methods
Xoli operates through WhatsApp integration, accessible via the dedicated phone number 55 6565 9395 or through the official Mexico City government website at mexicocity.cdmx.gob.mx [1][2]. Users initiate conversations by sending the word ‘Hola’ to the designated number, after which they can select their preferred language and choose from categories including museums, restaurants, hotels, cultural events, concerts, sports, and transportation [1][4]. The chatbot utilizes natural language processing capabilities, enabling users to ask open-ended questions such as ‘¿Qué museos me recomiendas visitar con infancias?’ or ‘Where can I find concerts this weekend?’ [2]. This conversational AI approach allows tourists to plan personalized itineraries by consulting activities for specific dates, transforming the traditional static information model into an interactive, responsive system [2].
Development Partnership and Institutional Framework
The development of Xoli represents a collaborative effort between three key Mexico City government entities: the Digital Agency for Public Innovation (ADIP), the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Culture [1][2][4]. Ángel Tamariz, head of ADIP, emphasized the digital transformation objective, stating that the agency wants ‘each visitor to experience Mexico City in a simple and digital way’ [2]. The project aligns with broader federal initiatives, as Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada described Xoli as ‘the technological instrument that will allow us to link culture, tourism, recreation, and entertainment with the population’ [1]. This multi-agency approach demonstrates Mexico City’s commitment to integrating technological solutions across traditional government silos to create comprehensive tourist services [4].
Managing Scale: From Daily Operations to World Cup Preparation
The chatbot addresses the significant logistical challenge of managing Mexico City’s extensive cultural offerings, which Alejandra Frausto, head of the Ministry of Tourism, quantifies as close to 3,000 daily tourist, recreational, and cultural activities that can surge to 5,000 during high-demand periods [1][4]. Frausto noted that ‘translating this data into reliable and accessible information involves a great effort, but it is now possible thanks to this chatbot’ [1]. The system operates continuously, providing 24/7 availability seven days a week in both Spanish and English [2][4]. For the 2026 World Cup specifically, Xoli will include dedicated sections covering match details, event locations, ticket information, and the locations of public screens installed for free game broadcasts [1][4]. The timing proves critical, as Mayor Brugada announced the launch occurred 85 days before the World Cup’s inauguration in Mexico City [4].
Strategic Context and Long-term Vision
Xoli’s deployment forms part of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s comprehensive Mexico 2026 Social World Cup plan, announced in late 2025, which encompasses 177 festivities, 5,000 activities, 74 tournaments, and 1,500 actions within the Vive Saludable initiative [1]. The federal government has positioned the 2026 World Cup as a development catalyst for the entire country, with technological innovations like Xoli serving as key infrastructure investments [1]. Mariana Blanco Senties, Director of Digital Identity at ADIP, emphasized the strategic importance, describing the chatbot as ‘a great opportunity to get closer to people, to be able to guide them and help them explore Mexico City in a safe way, with reliable information’ [2]. Significantly, city officials confirmed that Xoli will continue operating beyond the World Cup, indicating a long-term commitment to digital tourism infrastructure rather than a temporary event-specific solution [4]. The system also targets local residents, with Mayor Brugada acknowledging that ‘we still need to learn about many museums; we still need to discover very beautiful corners in various parts of the city’ [4].