![The FIFA World Cup trophy on stage during the draw [Mandel Ngan/Reuters]](https://independentnews.co.sz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-05T175540Z_1025404682_UP1ELC51DSRSJ_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-DRAW-1764957460-1.webp)
Washington DC – Mexico will play the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. The draw, held on December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., also placed Mexico in Group A alongside South Korea and a team from the UEFA Playoff D, which will be one of Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, or North Macedonia.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, marks Mexico’s third time as a World Cup host, with the country’s best performances coming in 1970 and 1986, when it reached the quarter-finals. Mexico automatically qualified as a co-host for this expanded 48-team World Cup.
Mexico’s full group-stage schedule includes games across two cities: Mexico City and Guadalajara. The host nation will hope for a strong performance at home, building on its historic World Cup pedigree, despite a disappointing early exit from the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
![Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino hold up country names during the draw [Jacquelyn Martin/AP]](https://independentnews.co.sz/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AP25339648140453-1764957727.webp)
Here is a detailed look at the groups and fixtures:
| Group | Teams | Host Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Playoff D (Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, or North Macedonia) | Mexico City, Guadalajara |
| Group B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia) | Various cities in North America |
| Group C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland | Various cities in North America |
| Group D | USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo) | Various cities in North America |
| Group E | Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao | Various cities in North America |
| Group F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania) | Various cities in North America |
| Group G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand | Various cities in North America |
| Group H | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde | Various cities in North America |
| Group I | France, Senegal, UEFA Playoff 2 (Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname), Norway | Various cities in North America |
| Group J | Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan | Various cities in North America |
| Group K | Portugal, UEFA Playoff 1 (Colombia, Uzbekistan), DRC, Jamaica or New Caledonia | Various cities in North America |
| Group L | England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama | Various cities in North America |
Full Group A Fixtures (Mexico’s Schedule):
- June 11, 2026: Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- June 18, 2026: Mexico vs South Korea, Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara
- June 24, 2026: Mexico vs UEFA Playoff D winner, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
The draw also featured various celebrities and former athletes, including Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Gretzky, and Aaron Judge, who participated in drawing the groups. The event was attended by world leaders, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa will bring back memories of the 2010 World Cup opener, when the two teams drew 1-1 in South Africa, with Lawrence Tshabalala scoring the first goal of the tournament. The World Cup’s expansion to 48 teams and three host nations promises a unique spectacle across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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