The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw, held on December 5 in Washington D.C., placed Mexico in Group A with South Africa, South Korea, and the UEFA Repechage D winner. President Claudia Sheinbaum, Donald Trump, and Mark Carney attended the event, emphasizing cooperation among the host nations. The opening match will be Mexico versus South Africa on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca.
The draw took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with leaders from Mexico, the United States, and Canada in attendance. Mexico, as host, topped Group A. Confirmed opponents are South Korea and South Africa, with the fourth from the UEFA repechage between Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, and Ireland.
Sheinbaum stated: “We are proud to host the World Cup for the third time. Mexico is an extraordinary, beautiful, magical country”. Trump praised the ties: “We have worked closely with those two countries, and the coordination has been extraordinary”. After the event, the leaders held a brief meeting, agreeing to collaborate on commercial issues without discussing the USMCA.
The official schedule will be unveiled on December 6 at 11:00 a.m. (Mexico time) via FIFA+, FIFA.com, and FIFA's YouTube channel. The final version arrives in March 2026 after repechages. Mexico will host 13 matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, including all of the national team's games.
Javier Aguirre, Mexico's coach, expressed regret over the uncertainty: “I would have liked to know all my opponents”. Guest Hugo Sánchez criticized: “We don't have great figures”. The tournament features 48 teams in 12 groups, expanding the group stage.
