Restaurants, bars, and hotels across Tulum and Quintana Roo are heading into the FIFA World Cup 2026 without a clear picture of whether they can legally broadcast matches, what licenses they need, or who could come after them if they get it wrong.
The tournament kicks off on June 11, and business owners who want to broadcast games on their screens face a regulatory landscape that is more complex than it appears. The Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial, known as IMPI, has issued warnings in recent days clarifying that public transmission of World Cup matches for commercial purposes is subject to intellectual property law and FIFA's own licensing rules. The stakes are real: fines under Mexico's Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor can reach approximately 586,500 pesos, with additional daily penalties for continued violations.
The confusion is real, and so is the risk
Business owners in Tulum say they want to take advantage of the moment. The World Cup represents a rare opportunity to draw clients during what has been a difficult stretch for tourism in the destination. But operators say conflicting information circulating on social media has left them unsure about their obligations.
"We want our clients to enjoy the matches and create an attractive environment during the World Cup, but we also want to do it legally and without running risks," a group of Tulum entrepreneurs said, adding that they do not know which authority to turn to for guidance.
That confusion is understandable given the noise online. Some posts have claimed that any business can broadcast matches freely. Others have warned about million-peso fines for simply turning on a television. The truth sits somewhere in between, and understanding where requires knowing what kind of transmission a business is conducting and how it is using FIFA's brand.
What Mexican law actually requires
Under Article 231, Section VI of Mexico's Ley Federal del Derecho de Autor, retransmitting or publicly broadcasting content from a licensed broadcaster without authorization constitutes an infringement when conducted for commercial purposes. IMPI is the agency responsible for enforcement, and it has confirmed it will conduct special monitoring operations throughout the tournament.
The first thing businesses need to understand is the difference between a residential and a commercial broadcast subscription. A standard home cable or streaming contract, regardless of provider, is explicitly restricted to private use. When that signal is projected in a bar, restaurant, or hotel lobby for paying customers, the transmission becomes a public communication within a commercial activity. That shift in context is where legal exposure begins.
IMPI has specified that establishments must contract service through companies authorized to broadcast commercially. In Mexico, Televisa holds the primary authorized distribution rights for the tournament. The practical path for most businesses runs through commercial-tier accounts with IZZI Negocios or Sky Business, the commercial service tiers of those platforms, rather than standard residential plans. These accounts are designed specifically for public exhibition in commercial settings.
When a "normal" broadcast becomes a legal problem
FIFA's own public viewing regulations draw a distinction between commercial and non-commercial events. A restaurant that simply has televisions on as part of its normal operation, without charging a cover fee or staging a special promotional event, may fall within what FIFA considers routine commercial activity rather than an event requiring special authorization.
The line shifts when a business organizes a specific viewing event, charges entry, arranges sponsorships, or promotes the broadcasts in a way that suggests a formal commercial relationship with FIFA or the tournament. All of those scenarios require explicit authorization. IMPI has been clear that organizing paid viewings without the corresponding commercial rights is where sanctions are most likely to be applied.
There is a second layer of risk that many Quintana Roo businesses may not have considered: trademark protection. FIFA has registered more than 340 marks related to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, including names, logos, slogans, and tournament imagery. Carolina Pérez Luna, IMPI's director of Intellectual Property Protection, has warned that using those marks in advertising, promotions, or decoration without authorization constitutes a separate and actionable violation. A restaurant cannot describe itself as an "official venue," a "FIFA partner," or use tournament graphics in its marketing without written permission from FIFA or an authorized licensee.
The economic stakes in a struggling destination
For Tulum specifically, the regulatory uncertainty arrives at a moment when the local tourism sector can least afford friction. Visitor numbers have declined over the past year, driven by a combination of sargassum accumulation on beaches, broader macroeconomic pressures, and shifting traveler patterns. Entrepreneurs here see the World Cup as one of the most concrete short-term opportunities to move the needle on foot traffic, and many are willing to invest in screens, staffing, and programming to make the most of it.
The risk is that underprepared operators, uncertain about what is required, either do nothing and miss the opportunity, or proceed without the right licensing and face enforcement actions at precisely the moment they were hoping to generate revenue. IMPI has acknowledged it lacks the operational capacity to monitor every establishment in the country simultaneously, but it has confirmed that special operatives will be active during the tournament and that enforcement will follow complaints from rights holders.
What businesses in Quintana Roo should do before kickoff
The clearest path available to restaurant, bar, and hotel operators involves three steps. First, verify that any existing broadcast subscription covers commercial public exhibition, or upgrade to a commercial tier with IZZI Negocios or Sky Business before the matches begin. Second, avoid using FIFA trademarks, the tournament name, logos, or any language suggesting an official affiliation in marketing materials, social media promotions, or physical signage. Third, for businesses that want to organize special viewing events with covers or branded programming, consult directly with IMPI or a legal advisor before proceeding.
IMPI has stated that businesses can contact the institute directly for guidance on transmission rights and the use of FIFA-protected assets. That route is available to operators in Quintana Roo, though the one-day window before the opening match leaves little time to act.
The broader picture is a regulatory environment that caught many small and mid-sized operators unprepared, not because the rules are new, but because the information did not reach them in time or in a form they could use. With 64 matches scheduled through July, there is still a window to get compliant. But for tomorrow's opening, many screens in Tulum may go dark or go live without the operators knowing which side of the law they are standing on.
Is your business ready to broadcast the World Cup legally, or has the lack of official guidance left you in the dark? Join the conversation and share your perspective with us on Instagram and Facebook at @thetulumtimes.