The FIFA World Cup 2026 continued to deliver exciting action as Portugal booked its place in the Round of 16 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Round of 32. Portugal came from behind to seal the win and will now face Spain in the next stage of the tournament. 

In other Round of 32 fixtures, Spain produced a commanding 3-0 win over Austria, while the USA defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to progress. Switzerland also secured a 2-0 victory over Algeria, completing another successful day of knockout football. 

Away from the action on the pitch, the Mexico City Stadium has become one of the standout attractions of the tournament following the completion of an extensive renovation of its hospitality and food and beverage spaces. The historic venue, famous for hosting the 1968 Olympics and the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, has been transformed through a 15,000-square-metre interior redevelopment led by a team of Mexican design studios. 

The renovation has been guided by three key principles: preserving the stadium's historic identity, reinterpreting Mexican modernist design, and creating a unified design language through collaboration among the participating architects.

Across the hospitality areas, visitors are welcomed into interiors organised with a colour palette of green, terracotta, blue, and yellow, helping guests navigate different zones. The upgraded spaces include new reception areas, lounges, bars, premium suites, and enhanced food and beverage outlets. Materials such as wood, steel, and carefully designed ceiling systems create a modern atmosphere while respecting the stadium's rich heritage.

The project reflects how iconic sporting venues can embrace modern hospitality without losing their historical character. As the FIFA World Cup continues across North America, the renovated Mexico City Stadium stands as a strong example of how infrastructure upgrades can improve the fan experience while preserving the legacy of one of football's most celebrated stadiums. 

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has expanded its GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme with a new partnership with City Unscripted, strengthening its focus on personalised and experience-led travel.

The collaboration introduces a new category under GHA DISCOVERY Experiences — Local City Tours — designed to help travellers explore destinations in a more immersive and locally guided way. The move aligns with GHA’s “Live Local” concept, which encourages deeper engagement with cities beyond traditional tourism.

Through City Unscripted, travellers are paired with local hosts who tailor experiences based on individual interests such as food, culture, neighbourhood life, design, history, and hidden gems. Each experience is flexible and customised, offering a more personal alternative to standard guided tours.

The programme is currently available in 15 global cities, including Berlin, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Dubai, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo, Sydney, Madrid, Mexico City, Lisbon, Hong Kong, and Munich. These experiences combine iconic landmarks with lesser-known local spots, giving travellers a more authentic understanding of each destination.

As part of the partnership, GHA DISCOVERY members receive a 20% discount on City Unscripted experiences booked through the GHA website or mobile app. Additional benefits include priority matching with local hosts and a complimentary 30-minute pre-trip consultation to personalise the itinerary.

According to Jelena Kezika, VP Strategy at Global Hotel Alliance, the shift reflects a growing demand for meaningful travel experiences that help travellers build stronger connections with destinations and cultures.

Beyond this partnership, GHA DISCOVERY continues to offer more than 2,500 local experiences worldwide, including dining, spa, cultural activities, day-use stays, golf, and work-from-hotel options, many of which are available even without an overnight stay.

The alliance noted that dining remains the most popular category, followed by spa and wellness experiences, highlighting the growing trend of lifestyle-driven engagement with hotel brands.

Through this expansion, GHA reinforces its position in the evolving travel landscape, where loyalty programmes are increasingly focused on personalised, flexible, and immersive experiences rather than traditional stay-based rewards.

Emirates has strengthened its operations in Kenya with the launch of its third daily flight between Dubai and Nairobi, taking the total number of weekly services on the route to 21. The inaugural EK717 flight landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly after 5:00 am, marking another milestone in the airline's three-decade presence in the country.

The new service has been introduced as part of the airline's summer schedule, offering travellers more flexibility and improved onward connections to destinations across Europe, North America, and Africa.

Flight EK717 departs Dubai at 01:20 and arrives in Nairobi at 05:25, while the return service, EK718, leaves Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 07:10 and reaches Dubai at 13:15. The revised schedule allows passengers to connect more conveniently to destinations including the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

The additional morning service also benefits international tourists by giving them more time to continue their journey to destinations such as Kenya's national parks and coastal resorts. Business travellers will also benefit from same-day connections to major commercial centres, including London and Paris.

The inaugural flight was welcomed by Christophe Leloup, Emirates' Country Manager for Kenya, along with H.E. Dr. Salim Ibrahim Bin Ahmed Mohammed Alnaqbi, UAE Ambassador to Kenya, Teresia Mbaika, Principal Secretary of State Department for Aviation & Aerospace Development, Ambassador (Professor) Julius K. Bitok, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism, and members of the Emirates team.

Commenting on the launch, Christophe Leloup, Emirates' Country Manager for Kenya, said, "For three decades, Kenya has been one of Emirates' most important destinations in Africa, and this third daily service reflects both the strength of that relationship and our confidence in the country's future. More than adding capacity, this flight creates better connections for travellers from across Europe, North America and beyond, making it easier for people to visit Kenya, do business here, and connect with family and opportunities. It is an investment in a market we know well and a commitment to supporting Kenya's growing role as a regional and global gateway."

Emirates first launched flights to Nairobi in 1995 and has since carried more than six million passengers between Kenya and its global network of over 138 destinations through Dubai.

Welcoming the new service, Teresia Mbaika, CBS, Principal Secretary, Aviation and Aerospace Development, said, "I congratulate Emirates on the launch of its third scheduled flight into Nairobi. This is a strong vote of confidence in Kenya’s aviation, tourism and trade sectors. Kenya and the UAE have enjoyed cordial and mutually beneficial relations over the years, and we look forward to strengthening this partnership even further. I am also confident that Emirates will soon benefit from the ongoing modernisation of JKIA, which is designed to improve efficiency, capacity, and the overall passenger experience."

The airline has also strengthened regional connectivity through its interline partnership with Kenya Airways, signed in 2023. More than 31,000 passengers have already travelled across the combined networks, connecting to destinations including Rwanda, Kilimanjaro, and Mozambique.

The third daily service also increases Emirates' cargo capacity by 280 tonnes per week, providing an additional boost for Kenya's flower growers and fresh produce exporters. Combined with Emirates SkyCargo's three weekly freighter services, the airline now transports over 1,100 tonnes of cargo to and from Kenya every week.

The launch follows the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Kenya and the UAE earlier this year, further strengthening trade and economic ties. It also supports Kenya's goal of welcoming five million international tourists by 2030 through improved international connectivity.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador (Professor) Julius K. Bitok, CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Tourism, said, "As we continue to showcase Kenya to the world, enhanced air connectivity plays a vital role in movement of people, goods and services while helping more travellers discover the incredible diversity of our destination. Emirates' third daily service to Nairobi will make it even easier for visitors to experience Kenya's spectacular wildlife, pristine coastline, vibrant culture and warm hospitality. We welcome this important investment in connectivity and look forward to inspiring more travellers to visit our magical destination – ‘the origin of wonder’."

June Chepkemei, CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, added, "As Kenya continues to pursue ambitious tourism growth, strong international air connectivity remains one of our greatest enablers. The third daily service from Emirates will improve access for visitors from key global markets and support our efforts to grow tourism, create jobs and deliver greater economic value for communities across the country. Together with partners like Emirates, we look forward to welcoming more travellers to experience the unparalleled beauty and diversity of Destination Kenya."