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Today’s verdict: The World Cup knockouts begin today with the regional bracket set — six Latin American sides through, Uruguay the only one out — as Colombia names its first minister and Uruguay’s tax counts down to Wednesday.
01
The knockouts begin. The Round of 32 opens today, with six Latin American teams through after Argentina and Colombia won their groups. Mexico host Ecuador at the Azteca on Tuesday, the first knockout match at the stadium.
02
Colombia’s first minister. De la Espriella named Rodrigo Lara as his interior minister, the first confirmed pick of the incoming cabinet. The handover is under way, though most posts remain unfilled.
03
Uruguay’s tax lands Wednesday. The 12% tax on foreign capital income starts collecting on July 1, when withholding begins. New residents should lock in their one-time regime choice before then.
What changed since yesterdayThe World Cup’s group stage is done and the knockouts begin today, with the regional bracket fixed and Uruguay out. Colombia named its first minister, and Uruguay’s tax start is three days away.
Good morning. Your LatAm expat nomad daily guide opens on the first day of the World Cup knockouts, a Colombian cabinet starting to fill, and a Uruguayan tax deadline now days away.
Six of the region’s seven sides reached the last 32; the week’s hard, dated item is Wednesday’s tax start in Montevideo.
Key Points
- The knockouts begin today. Six Latin American teams are through; Mexico host Ecuador at the Azteca on Tuesday.
- Colombia’s first minister. De la Espriella named Rodrigo Lara to Interior, the first confirmed cabinet pick.
- Uruguay’s tax lands Wednesday. Collection of the 12% on foreign capital income begins July 1.
- A holiday Monday. San Pedro y San Pablo is a public holiday in Colombia and Peru.
- Comic Con closes Monday. Colombia’s biggest pop-culture weekend wraps June 29.
- FX is live. Weekend markets are shut, so these are the latest closing rates.
00Status Changes Since Saturday
| World Cup (LatAm) | Group finales; Uruguay out | Knockouts begin; six sides through | Brazil v Japan Mon; Mexico v Ecuador Azteca Tue |
| Colombia transition | Cabinet forming | Lara named to Interior, the first pick | More posts; inauguration Aug 7 |
| Uruguay 12% tax | Four days out | Three days to the July 1 start | Withholding begins Wednesday |
| Argentina dollar | Markets closed | Still shut for the weekend | Watch Monday’s reopen |
| Bolivia unrest | Quiet | Mobility restored; Chapare paused | Watch for renewed action |
01Visas & Residency
| Uruguay | The 12% tax on foreign capital income starts collecting on Wednesday, with banks and funds acting as withholding agents. New residents must elect a holiday, a reduced rate or the standard rate, and it does not tax remote-work salaries. | If you became a tax resident in 2026, lock in the one-time election with an accountant before July 1. |
| Colombia | The incoming government named Rodrigo Lara as interior minister, its first confirmed pick, with the rest of the cabinet still to come. No rule changes take effect before the August 7 inauguration. | Keep appointments; watch the cabinet picks rather than any immediate change. |
| Mexico | The tourist FMM is capped at 180 days and immigration has cracked down on rotating “serial tourists,” while the permanent-residency shortcut stays closed to non-retirees. | Do not rely on back-to-back tourist entries; plan a proper temporary-residency route if you intend to stay. |
| Peru | The digital-nomad permit still lacks its enabling rules and cannot be filed, so remote workers use tourist stays or the independent-worker route. San Pedro y San Pablo is a public holiday on Monday. | Do not count on the nomad visa yet; expect a long weekend and closures. |
| Bolivia | Intercity mobility is largely restored under the state of emergency, with the Cochabamba standoff paused rather than resolved. | Most routes are open, but confirm conditions before any trip near the Chapare. |
02Cost of Living & Money
Markets are shut for the weekend, so these are the latest closing rates against the dollar. The Uruguayan peso eased into the July 1 tax start, while the Brazilian real held firm.
| Brazilian real | 5.17 | steady, firmer of late |
| Mexican peso | 17.50 | little changed |
| Colombian peso | 3,437 | firm on the week |
| Chilean peso | 922 | broadly flat |
| Peruvian sol | 3.41 | a touch firmer |
| Argentine peso | 1,477 | near a low; blue ~1,530 |
| Uruguayan peso | 40.22 | softer into the tax start |
Apartment-hunting season runs all winter, so here is the rent check across all 13 hubs — a furnished one-bedroom in the neighbourhoods expats actually pick.
| Mexico City | US$800–1,500 (Roma Norte) | US$1,800–3,500 |
| Playa del Carmen | US$900–1,400 near the beach | US$1,700–3,600 |
| Mérida | US$500–800, bills often in | US$1,100–1,500 |
| Oaxaca | US$400–750 | US$1,600–2,400 |
| Medellín | US$500–1,200 (El Poblado) | US$1,200–1,800 |
| Bogotá | US$550–1,300 furnished | US$1,200–2,850 |
| Buenos Aires | US$800–1,300 (Palermo) | US$1,500–2,000 |
| São Paulo | US$950–1,900, condo fees in | US$1,800–2,500 |
| Rio de Janeiro | US$690–1,190 (Botafogo) | about US$2,000 |
| Florianópolis | US$700–1,400 | US$1,250–2,000 |
| Lima | US$600–900 (Barranco) | US$1,300–1,600 |
| Santiago | US$550–900 (Providencia) | US$1,200–2,000 |
| Montevideo | US$600–1,000 (Pocitos) | US$1,500–2,200 |
03What’s On
Today (Sunday). The Round of 32 opens with South Africa against Canada, while Comic Con Colombia heads into its final day and Bogotá’s Festival de la Lechona runs on. Rio’s World Press Photo exhibition reaches its last day.
This week. Monday brings the San Pedro y San Pablo holiday and Brazil’s knockout against Japan, then Mexico host Ecuador at the Azteca on Tuesday. Uruguay’s 12% tax begins on Wednesday.
Later. Argentina face Cape Verde and Colombia meet Ghana on Friday, July 3. Buenos Aires adds Ricardo Arjona dates from July 1.
04Art & Culture
Comic Con Colombia wraps up on June 29 across Bogotá’s Corferias and Medellín’s Plaza Mayor, the country’s biggest pop-culture weekend. Rio’s World Press Photo exhibition, meanwhile, closes today.
The festas juninas are winding down after São Pedro, with the last neighbourhood arraiás this weekend. Buenos Aires and Mexico City pick up the slack with a run of July concerts.
05Food & Coffee
Bogotá’s Festival de la Lechona runs through Monday in Zona L, serving the slow-roast pork by the portion. It is a cheap, only-in-Colombia way to spend the long holiday weekend.
Across Brazil, the final São Pedro arraiás keep the canjica, pamonha and quentão flowing. After this weekend the winter-festival table quietens until July’s regional fairs.
06Community & Safety
Colombia. The cities are calm, with the political focus on the new cabinet rather than the streets. Expect a quieter long weekend around the Monday holiday in Bogotá and the regions.
Mexico City. The Azteca hosts a Round-of-32 match on Tuesday, so expect heavy crowds and transport demand around the stadium and the Zócalo fan festival. The emergency number is 911 and the tap water is not safe to drink.
Bolivia. Intercity mobility is largely restored, but the Cochabamba growers have only paused. Confirm conditions before any trip near the Chapare, and favour flying on affected corridors.
07What to Watch — June 28–July 3
Sun Jun 28The Round of 32 opens (South Africa v Canada) · World Press Photo’s last day in Rio.
Mon Jun 29San Pedro y San Pablo holiday · Brazil v Japan & Germany v Paraguay · Comic Con closes.
Tue Jun 30Mexico v Ecuador at the Azteca — the first knockout match at the stadium.
Wed Jul 1Uruguay’s 12% foreign-income tax begins collection.
Fri Jul 3Argentina v Cape Verde (Miami) · Colombia v Ghana (Kansas City).
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the World Cup knockouts start?
The Round of 32 opens today, June 28, with South Africa against Canada. Six Latin American teams are through, and Mexico host Ecuador at the Azteca on Tuesday.
Who did Colombia name to its cabinet?
De la Espriella named Rodrigo Lara as interior minister, the first confirmed pick. The rest of the cabinet is still to come, and nothing changes before the August 7 inauguration.
When does Uruguay’s tax start?
Collection of the 12% tax on foreign capital income begins Wednesday, July 1. New residents should elect their regime first; it does not tax remote-work salaries.
Is Monday a holiday?
Yes. San Pedro y San Pablo is a public holiday in Colombia and Peru, so expect closures and a long weekend.
What are the latest exchange rates?
With markets shut, the dollar buys roughly 5.17 Brazilian reais, 17.50 Mexican pesos and 3,437 Colombian pesos. The Uruguayan peso eased to about 40.2.
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