World Cup 2026

Mexico announce final set of friendlies ahead of World Cup: all the details

El Tri have confirmed their opponents for the warm-up games ahead of the World Cup.

Daniel Benavides
Football Journalist
Born in Leeds, Joe finished his Spanish degree in 2018 before becoming an English teacher to football (soccer) players and managers, as well as collaborating with various football media outlets in English and Spanish. He joined AS in 2022 and covers both the men’s and women’s game across Europe and beyond.
Update:

The Mexican men’s national team have announced that they are set to play a number of friendly games before their World Cup 2026 campaign begins on home soil.

El Tri are set to play Ghana, Australia, and Serbia ahead of the World Cup; the first game and the last will take place in Mexico while the match against the Socceroos will be held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

At the time of writing, the Mexican venues have not been announced.

Mexico pre-World Cup friendlies:

  • vs Ghana - May 22 - venue TBC
  • vs Australia - date TBC - Rose Bowl stadium, California
  • vs Serbia - June 4 - venue TBC

Ivar Sisniega, president of the Mexican Football Federation, said that “these are the ideal opponents to help prepare the national team for the World Cup.”

However, these games won’t be Mexico’s only preparation. Ahead of this trio of games, El Tri will take on Iceland on February 25 in Querétaro and Portugal in Mexico City on March 28. They will then go up against Belgium on March 31 in Chicago.

Mexico open the 2026 World Cup in Group A, and will play all three group games on home soil. The first match is the inaugural game of the tournament on Thursday, 11 June 2026, when Mexico face South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, kicking off at 13:00 ET.

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A week later on Thursday, 18 June, Mexico’s second group game is against South Korea at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan (Guadalajara) with a 19:00 start. The final group match comes on Wednesday, 24 June back at the Estadio Azteca at 19:00, when Mexico will play the team that emerges from the UEFA playoff D (one of Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia, Denmark or Czech Republic).

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