ALABAMA - On June 11, 2026, more than 80,000 fans will make history at Estadio Azteca when the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, with Mexico hosting the event for a record third time.
The legendary stadium in Mexico City will also be the first venue in history to host three World Cup opening games. In total, Mexico is expected to receive 13 of the total 104 matches that will be played during the Mexico-Canada-United States joint World Cup in 2026.
Mexico will try to bounce back from its bad results in the last World Cup, where they failed to advance to the knockout stages for the first time since 1990, breaking a streak of seven straight Round of 16 appearances.
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Mexico City was chosen to host the opening match of the first World Cup ever to be held in three different countries, the inaugural one taking place at the legendary Estadio Azteca. 'El Tri' will play two group stage games in Mexico City and the remaining one in Chivas' stadium in Guadalajara.
Mexico will hope to use their home-field advantage as much as possible throughout the tournament, as the Estadio Azteca seems to be like a fortress for 'El Tri'. In the previous two World Cups that they hosted (1970, 1986), Mexico never lost a game at Estadio Azteca (5-0-2 W-L-D) but remains winless outside of the venue (0-1-1 W-L-D).
🗣️ "We are the opening game." 🇲🇽#WeAre26 | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 4, 2024
Mexico's Group Stage Schedule
- June 11, 2026: Opening match at Estadio Azteca
- June 18, 2026: Second group stage game in Guadalajara
- June 24, 2026: Last group stage match at Estadio Azteca
Historically, Mexico has had its best performances in a World Cup when playing in home soil. The only two times in which 'El Tri' has reached the Quarterfinals, they did so as the hosts (1970, 1986).
June 15, 1986 remains as the only time in the history of the competition in which Mexico was able to win a game in the knockout stages.
Surprisingly, that 1986 edition remains as the only one in which Mexico finished without a single loss. In their Quarterfinal matchup against Germany, Mexico was able to take the game to penalties after a goalless draw, but the Germans got the better of Mexico in the penalty shootout winning 4-1.
Mexico's 2026 World Cup Games distribution
- Mexico City: 5 total games - 3 group stage matches, 1 Round of 32, 1 Round of 16
- Guadalajara: 4 total games - all group stage matches
- Monterrey: 4 total games - 3 group stage matches, 1 Round of 32
In case of qualifying to the knockout stages, Mexico could have the chance of playing their Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches in home soil before the 2026 World Cup moves to the United States for the decisive rounds. If they top their group, the Mexican national team could play at either Estadio Azteca or at Monterrey's BBVA Stadium for the Round of 32.
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