As one of the three host countries for the 2026 World Cup, alongside the United States and Canada, the country will host group stage matches and several more from the knockout stage. The venues for the 2026 World Cup matches are: Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Here are the dates and teams that will face off on Mexican soil for the world championship:
Estadio Ciudad de México: Mexico vs. South Africa in the group stage (June 11) Uzbekistan vs. Colombia in the group stage (June 17) Czech Republic vs. Mexico in the group stage (June 24) Round of 16 - 1A vs. 3rd from C/E/F/H/I (June 30) Quarter-final - W79 vs. W80 (July 5)
Estadio Guadalajara: Korea Republic vs. Czech Republic in the group stage (June 11) Mexico vs. Korea Republic in the group stage (June 18) Jamaica vs. DR Congo/Jamaica in the group stage (June 23) Uruguay vs. Spain in the group stage (June 26)
Estadio Monterrey: Sweden vs. Tunisia in the group stage (June 14) Tunisia vs. Japan in the group stage (June 20) South Africa vs. Korea Republic (June 24) Round of 16 - 1F vs. 2C (June 29)
The FIFA World Cup groups are defined after the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup playoff finals, where the last qualifiers from UEFA are integrated into the top international football event. With these results, the teams already know their path in the first round of the tournament, as is the case with the Czech Republic, who defeated Denmark and joins Group A, where Mexico's team under Javier Aguirre is located.
However, the picture is not yet completely closed. Two more tickets remain to be defined, corresponding to the DR Congo vs. Jamaica, and Bolivia vs. Iraq matches, whose winners will complete the list of qualified teams, and consequently, the tournament groups.
How were the 2026 World Cup groups drawn? For now, the distribution of teams shows competitive groups and some matchups that promise great intensity from the initial stage, especially with the inclusion of European teams that secured their pass in the final instance of the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
The 48 teams are ordered into groups as follows:
Group A: 1. Mexico 2. South Africa 3. Korea Republic 4. Czech Republic
Group B: 1. Canada 2. Qatar 3. Switzerland 4. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: 1. Brazil 2. Morocco 3. Haiti 4. Scotland
Group D: 1. United States 2. Paraguay 3. Australia 4. Turkey
Group E: 1. Germany 2. Curaçao 3. Ivory Coast 4. Ecuador
Group F: 1. Netherlands 2. Japan 3. Tunisia 4. Sweden
Group G: 1. Belgium 2. Egypt 3. Iran 4. New Zealand
Group H: 1. Spain 2. Cape Verde 3. Saudi Arabia 4. Uruguay
Group I: 1. France 2. Bolivia or Iraq 3. Senegal 4. Norway
Group J: 1. Argentina 2. Algeria 3. Austria 4. Jordan
Group K: 1. Jamaica or DR Congo 2. Portugal 3. Uzbekistan 4. Colombia
Group L: 1. England 2. Croatia 3. Ghana 4. Panama
When are Mexico's group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup? The opening match of the 2026 World Cup will be played by Mexico's team under Javier Aguirre against the South Africa team, both belonging to Group A.
The world championship begins on Thursday, June 11, with this match at Estadio Ciudad de México (formerly Estadio Azteca).
The date and venue for Group A's matches are as follows (time in Central Mexico time):
Thursday, June 11: Mexico vs. South Africa: Estadio Ciudad de México at 3:00 p.m. Korea Republic vs. Czech Republic: Estadio Guadalajara at 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 18: Czech Republic vs. South Africa: Atlanta Stadium at 12:00 p.m. Mexico vs. Korea Republic: Estadio Guadalajara at 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24: Czech Republic vs. Mexico: Estadio Ciudad de México at 9:00 p.m. South Africa vs. Korea Republic: Estadio Monterrey at 9:00 p.m.
Which 2026 World Cup matches are played in Mexico? Mexico is hosting the FIFA World Cup for the third time.
