FIFA World Cup 2026 Mexico: Schedule, How to Watch, History & Record

Mexico will make history at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the first country to host the tournament three times. El Tri previously welcomed the world in 1970 and 1986, and now returns as co-host with the United States and Canada for the biggest World Cup ever.

The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 with 48 teams playing 104 matches across 16 cities. Mexico automatically qualified as a host nation and will open the entire tournament at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Mexico World Cup 2026 Schedule (Local Time)

Mexico plays all three group stage matches on home soil. El Tri faces South Korea, South Africa, and a European team in Group A.

Mexico Group Stage Matches

Match	Date	Opponent	Time (MX)	Time (ET)	Venue	City
1	Thursday, June 11	South Africa	1:00 PM	3:00 PM	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City
2	Thursday, June 18	South Korea	9:00 PM	11:00 PM	Estadio Akron	Guadalajara
3	Tuesday, June 24	UEFA Playoff Winner*	9:00 PM	11:00 PM	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City

*The UEFA Playoff D winner will be Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, or Republic of Ireland. This match determines the final group standings in March 2026.

All times shown are Mexico local time (UTC-6). Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey all use the same time zone.

Knockout Stage Path

Teams that finish first or second in their group advance to the Round of 32. The top eight third-place teams also move forward. Mexico needs to finish in the top two spots to guarantee advancement.

Winning Group A means Mexico stays home for knockout matches. The Round of 32 would be at Estadio Azteca on June 30 at 9:00 PM ET. A Round of 16 victory keeps El Tri in Mexico City on July 5 at 8:00 PM ET.

Finishing second or third forces Mexico to travel north. All subsequent matches would take place in the United States.

How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in Mexico

Mexican fans can watch every match for free through two major broadcasters.

TV Broadcasting

Televisa holds the primary broadcasting rights and will show matches across its network channels. The company provides Spanish commentary with expert analysis before and after each game.

TV Azteca confirmed its broadcast deal in November 2025. The network will air all Mexico matches plus select tournament games. Fans can enjoy commentary from Christian Martinoli, Luis García, Zague, and Jorge Campos.

Both networks broadcast over the air. Every household in Mexico can watch without a cable subscription.

Streaming Options

ViX+ streams Televisa coverage through its app and website. The platform works on smart TVs, phones, tablets, and computers.

TUDN App provides another Televisa streaming option with live matches and highlights.

Azteca Deportes App streams TV Azteca broadcasts. The service includes pre-match shows and post-game analysis.

All streaming platforms support multiple devices and offer mobile viewing for fans on the go.

Radio Coverage

• Imagen Radio broadcasts Mexico matches with live commentary across its network.
• Radio Fórmula provides play-by-play coverage for all El Tri games.
• W Radio Deportes offers another audio option with expert analysis.

Most stations stream online through their websites and mobile apps at no cost.

Mexico World Cup History & Record

Mexico stands among the most consistent World Cup participants with 17 tournament appearances through 2022. The 2026 edition marks their 18th time at the finals.

Tournament Record

El Tri has played 57 World Cup matches with 16 wins, 14 draws, and 27 losses. Mexico scored 60 goals while conceding 99 over nearly a century of World Cup history.

The team missed only four tournaments: 1934, 1974, 1982, and 1990. A FIFA ban kept Mexico out in 1982 and 1990 after officials discovered the use of overage players in youth competitions.

Best Performances

Mexico reached the quarterfinals twice as tournament host.

1970 World Cup saw El Tri defeat El Salvador 4-0 in one of their most dominant victories. The team beat Belgium 1-0 before losing 4-1 to Italy in the quarterfinals.

1986 World Cup produced another quarterfinal run under coach Bora Milutinović. Mexico defeated Bulgaria 2-0 in the Round of 16. Manuel Negrete scored what fans later voted as the greatest World Cup goal in history. The quarterfinal against West Germany ended 0-0, with Mexico losing the penalty shootout 4-1.

The Round of 16 Curse

From 1994 through 2018, Mexico advanced to the Round of 16 in seven straight tournaments. El Tri lost in that round every single time.

The defeats came against Bulgaria (1994), Germany (1998), the United States (2002), Argentina (2006 and 2010), the Netherlands (2014), and Brazil (2018).

This pattern created the “quinto partido” (fifth match) obsession. Mexican fans desperately want to see their team reach the quarterfinals again.

Qatar 2022 Disappointment

Mexico suffered its first group stage exit since 1978 at the 2022 World Cup. El Tri drew 0-0 with Poland, lost 2-0 to Argentina, and beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.

Mexico finished third in Group C with four points. Poland advanced on goal difference despite having the same point total.

Top Scorers

Luis Hernández and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández share the record with four World Cup goals each.

Luis Hernández scored all four goals at France 1998. He netted twice against South Korea and once each against the Netherlands and Germany. Nobody else has scored four goals for Mexico in a single World Cup.

Chicharito spread his four goals across three tournaments (2010, 2014, 2018). He became the first Mexican to score 50 international goals and retired as El Tri’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals.

Rafael Márquez and Antonio Carbajal each appeared in five World Cups. Márquez captained Mexico in multiple tournaments and scored three World Cup goals.

Mexico World Cup Predictions and Analysis

Mexico faces a challenging but winnable group. South Korea poses the biggest threat among Group A opponents.

Group Outlook

South Africa provides the opening test on June 11. The match recreates the 2010 World Cup opener when these teams drew 1-1 in Johannesburg. South Africa brings confidence after strong recent performances but lacks the talent depth to trouble Mexico over 90 minutes.

South Korea represents the toughest group opponent. The teams drew 2-2 in a friendly last year. Captain Son Heung-min now plays in MLS while Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae anchors the defense. Mexico beat South Korea at the 2018 World Cup but lost to them in 1998.

The UEFA Playoff Winner arrives with tactical discipline and European experience. Denmark stands as the most likely qualifier and would challenge Mexico for first place. Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland also bring World Cup experience.

Home Advantage

Playing all three group matches in Mexico provides huge benefits. The passionate crowds at Estadio Azteca and Estadio Akron create intimidating atmospheres. Mexico City sits at 7,200 feet elevation, which affects opponents’ stamina and performance.

Coach Javier Aguirre noted that summer heat will test European teams arriving just weeks after their domestic seasons end.

Path Forward

Most experts predict Mexico advances from Group A. The team should finish first or second to guarantee knockout stage progress.

Topping the group keeps Mexico at Estadio Azteca through the Round of 16. Captain Edson Álvarez expressed confidence: “We rely on the extra support the fans give us. We can do great things.”

Breaking the Round of 16 curse requires team chemistry, avoiding early mistakes, and handling the enormous pressure of playing at home.

Mexico FIFA World Cup 2026 FAQs

Mexico begins its quest for World Cup glory on June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca. Stay updated with complete tournament coverage, match schedules, and El Tri news throughout the competition.