Annie Leibovitz's World Cup Photography Exhibition Opens at Mexico City's National Museum of Anthropology

From June 9 to August 30, 2026, the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City will host 'Futbol 2026. Annie Leibovitz,' a dual-part exhibition. This showcase celebrates the photographer's return to World Cup visuals, 40 years after her 1986 FIFA World Cup advertising campaign in Mexico. The first segment features over 100 portraits from Leibovitz's body of work, pinned with thumbtacks to mimic her studio. The second part centers on soccer, displaying four of her 13 original 1986 images themed 'man, ball, and the Earth,' along with new portraits of stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Guillermo Ochoa. A notable 1981 photo of Pelé with muddy feet is also included, alongside Mesoamerican artifacts, such as the Lápida de Aparicio relief. Leibovitz referred to the players as 'heroes, brothers in arms, poets.' This exhibition is part of a broader cultural corridor featuring 19 soccer-themed exhibits coinciding with the 2026 FIFA World Cup.