This week in finance: Mexico’s economic gains from the 2026 FIFA World Cup are expected to fall well short of initial government projections, according to Moody’s Local México. Meanwhile, Toku has partnered with Cobre to launch a real-time payment collection solution through Mexico’s SPEI system. In other developments, BBVA introduced Smartshoring México, a specialized banking and corporate services platform designed to help Spanish companies establish, expand, and scale their operations in Mexico.
More news below:
Moody’s Cuts Mexico World Cup Economic Boost Forecast
Mexico’s economic gains from the 2026 FIFA World Cup are expected to fall well below initial government projections, according to Moody’s Local México. The ratings agency estimates that 768,000 international and domestic visitors will travel to the country’s three host cities — Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey — during the event. The forecast is substantially lower than the 5.5 million visitors projected by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism in November 2025. Under its baseline scenario, Moody’s estimates that visitor spending will generate approximately US$1.03 billion in direct economic activity, primarily benefiting hotels, transportation providers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and airport operators.
Toku, Cobre Bring Real-Time SPEI Collections to Mexico
Toku has partnered with corporate real-time payment platform Cobre to launch a real-time payment collection solution through Mexico’s Interbank Electronic Payment System (SPEI). The partnership enables financial institutions, insurers, telecommunications companies, and utility providers to automate cash collection processes 24/7. The integration specifically targets subscription-based business models by embedding Cobre’s payment infrastructure into Toku’s platform, facilitating real-time settlement and automated reconciliation while addressing a longstanding industry challenge: ensuring on-time payments with minimal user friction.
BBVA Launches Platform to Scale Spanish Businesses in Mexico
BBVA has launched Smartshoring México, a specialized banking and corporate services platform designed to help Spanish companies expand, establish, and scale operations in Mexico. The platform includes corporate checking accounts, payroll services, collections and payments solutions, global digital banking platforms, and preferential foreign exchange rates tailored to the Mexican market. It also provides specialized credit lines, financial guarantees, and advisory services to help foreign companies meet the sustainability requirements increasingly demanded by institutional investors. The platform also offers a non-financial soft-landing ecosystem, with a network of trusted legal, tax, accounting, and real estate partners to assist Spanish companies with regulatory compliance, administrative procedures, and facility acquisition. Finally, the initiative creates direct networking opportunities between incoming companies and established domestic businesses.
JP Morgan’s Dimon Sees Strong Long-Term Growth for Mexico
Mexico has strong long-term economic prospects driven by its integration with the United States, capital market development, data center expansion, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure investment, according to J.P. Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon. Speaking to the Mexican business community one day after meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum, Dimon said Mexico’s competitive advantages extend well beyond short-term economic cycles. He emphasized that Mexico and the United States are fortunate to have such a close economic relationship and should work together to finalize pending agreements and prioritize long-term growth.