FIFA unveiled the official 2026 World Cup schedule on December 6, 2025, confirming Mexico's opener against South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca. The team will also face South Korea and the UEFA D playoff winner in the group stage. A new ticket sales phase begins December 11.
The 2026 World Cup draw took place on December 5, 2025, setting the 12 groups, with Mexico heading Group A alongside South Africa, Republic of Korea, and the UEFA D playoff winner contested by Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, and Ireland. The next day, in a Washington D.C. ceremony led by Gianni Infantino, the official schedule was announced, factoring in logistics, weather, and timings.
The tournament, featuring 48 teams in 12 groups of four, kicks off on June 11, 2026. Mexico will debut against South Africa at 13:00 (central Mexico time, 15:00 ET) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Their second match is against Republic of Korea on June 18 at 19:00 at Estadio Guadalajara (Akron). The third, versus the playoff winner, on June 24 back in the capital.
Of Group A's six matches, five will be in Mexico: three in Mexico City, one in Guadalajara, and one in Monterrey. The group's final fixture is South Africa vs Republic of Korea on June 24 in Monterrey at 21:00 ET.
On tickets, over 500,000 have sold since September via FIFA's Random Selection Draw. The new phase starts December 11, 2025, at 10:00 (central Mexico time) and ends January 13, 2026. Fans must register on FIFA.com/boletos with a FIFA ID; if selected, they can buy up to four tickets per match. Group stage prices start at $60 (about 1,100 MXN), using dynamic pricing based on demand. VIP tickets are on FIFA.com/hospitality.
The full schedule will finalize in March 2026 after playoffs. Mexico, the US, and Canada host, with the final on July 19 in New Jersey.
