In the 2026 World Cup, Mexico will try to achieve its first victory in an opening match. The National Team has participated in seven World Cup openings, with a balance of five losses and two draws.
Mexico City, December 5 (However).- The Mexican National Team soccer player already knows his rivals for the 2026 World Cup: South Africa, South Korea and the winner of the European playoff who will emerge from among Ireland, Denmark, Macedonia of the Norte y Republic Czecha group that, contrary to what was expected, seems accessible to the tricolor team that seeks to transcend in a World Cup.
Mexico comes to your World Cupwhich he shares with States Joined (EU) y Canadawith the obligation to repeat what was done in the two previous World Cups where it hosted, reaching the quarterfinals, which has been, so far, its best participation in the World Cup tournament. However, the team led by Javier Aguirre raises doubts among its fans due to its poor performance and lack of results.
The Mexican team will begin its participation in the 2026 World Cup against South Africa at the opening. The match will be a repeat of the start of the 2010 World Cup where the Africans were hosts and which ended in a 1-1 draw.
There are four times that Mexico has faced South Africa, two in official matches and two in friendlies with a balance of two wins, one draw and one loss.
The second rival of the Mexican team will be South Korea, another old acquaintance in world cups. Mexico has faced the Asians twice in world championships, registering the same number of victories. The first, in France 1998, where they won 3-1, and the second, in Russia 2028, which ended with a score of 2-1 in favor of the tri.
In total, Mexicans and Koreans have faced each other on 14 occasions with 8 wins for Mexico, two draws and four losses.
Finally, the third rival of the national team will be defined in March 2026 when the European playoffs are played. Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia and the Czech Republic are looking to take the last available place in Group A.
#GrupoA | @FIFAWorldCup 2026. ✨
MEXICO 🇲🇽
South Korea 🇰🇷
South Africa 🇿🇦
Repechage Europe 4 🌍This Group represents much more than rivals: it is the beginning of a path that we will travel at home, accompanied by millions of voices that feel, live and dream with us.… pic.twitter.com/flfzNRm4oK
— National Team (@miseleccionmx) December 5, 2025
Of these four teams, Mexico has only faced Ireland in the World Cup, in the United States 1994 with a result in favor of the Aztecs 2-1 and against Czechoslovakia in Chile 1962 also with a victory for the tri 3-1.
In total, Mexico has been to seven World Cup openings. In total he has conceded 19 goals and has only scored two. Of those games, they lost five against rivals such as France, Brazil on three occasions and Sweden. They barely tied with the USSR, in Mexico 70, and against South Africa, in the 2010 edition. In the 2026 World Cup, Mexico will seek to add its first victory in an opening match.