Mexico City

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Lore & Background

Mexico City's connection to the World Cup is historic. Mexico will become the first country to host the World Cup three times once the 2026 tournament is held, having hosted the 1970 and 1986 editions. For the 2026 edition, the city is one of three Mexican host cities, alongside Guadalajara and Monterrey. The Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is the venue for the opening match of the tournament on June 11, 2026, which includes the Mexican national team. The tournament is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three countries and the first to include 48 teams. Canada, Mexico, and the United States qualified automatically as hosts.

In Their Own Story

The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The match features the Mexican national team, one of the three host nations. The tournament is the first to be hosted by three countries and the first to include 48 teams. Mexico's status as the first country to host the World Cup three times adds to the significance of the occasion. The match schedule, without group assignments, was announced on February 4, 2024, and the full schedule was unveiled on December 6, 2025, the day after the draw.

Reader's Guide

For the 2026 World Cup, host cities were geographically grouped into three regions. Mexico City is in the Central Region, along with Guadalajara, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, and Kansas City. The national team of each host nation plays its three group stage matches in its own country, so Mexico plays all its group matches in Mexico. The Estadio Azteca hosts the opening match on June 11, 2026. Canada and Mexico each host 13 matches in the tournament. The United States hosts 78 matches, including all quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.

Did You Know?

• Mexico City's Estadio Azteca hosts the opening match of the 2026 World Cup on June 11, 2026.
• Mexico will become the first country to host the World Cup three times once the 2026 tournament is held, having hosted the 1970 and 1986 editions.
• Mexico City is one of 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup, which is the first to be hosted by three countries.
• The 2026 World Cup is the first to include 48 teams, an expansion from the previous 32-team format.
• Canada, Mexico, and the United States qualified automatically as hosts for the 2026 tournament.