Mexico City just launched an AI chatbot for World Cup tourists and it is part of a bigger plan to use the tournament as a development engine

World Cup tourists visiting Mexico City can say ‘Hola’ to the city government’s newest launch: the cutest little AI chatbot you ever saw.

The new tool is called Xoli, and it has been designed to help visitors get around the city, find cultural events, explore food options, and check practical travel information ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It works through WhatsApp in both English and Spanish, which makes it feel a lot more like texting a local guide than digging through endless tabs on your phone.

But the interesting part is that this isn’t just about helping football fans, as city and federal officials are treating the World Cup as a chance to boost tourism, and show off a more tech-forward version of Mexico City.

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Mexico City just launched an AI chatbot for World Cup tourists

According to tech reports, Xoli was built by Mexico City’s government with support from its digital innovation, tourism, and culture teams – it’s available 24/7 on mobile and portrayed by a cute pink axolotl illustration.

Once users open WhatsApp and start a conversation, they can choose English or Spanish and then ask about tourism, culture, gastronomy, mobility, or general city info, they just have to open the chat and write ‘Hola’.

There is also a dedicated World Cup section set to include match details, special events, places where games will be shown publicly, and ticket-related information, all through the AI Chatbot.

That means Xoli isn’t being pitched as a chatbot gimmick, but as a practical travel companion for the millions of visitors expected during the tournament.

Using the tournament as a development engine

This is where the story gets bigger than one chatbot.

Mexico’s wider World Cup strategy includes more than 177 festivities, 5,000 activities linked to the tournament, 74 football competitions, and around 1,500 health-related actions, plus the revitalisation of 4,200 public sports spaces.

There is also a separate Conoce México app in the works to help fans with routes, venues, services, and cultural activities.

This is all alongside a Spanish-language ticket platform that will display prices in Mexican pesos and include an official resale system.

With the 2026 World Cup set to be the biggest yet, featuring 48 national teams and 104 matches across three host countries, Mexico is clearly trying to squeeze every possible long-term benefit out of the moment.

Xoli might look like a cute, handy AI chatbot on the surface, but it’s also a sign that the city wants the tournament to leave behind more than just matchday memories.