World Cup 2026 – What was Mexico’s opening win worth?
Despite a good start, we were under pressure to the point of blood
Updated June 13, 2026 – 2:11 p.mReading time: 6 minutes
Mexico is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup and is already under pressure in the group phase. Mexico doesn’t want to fail halfway again, especially in its own country.
Mexico had mixed feelings about the big party in world football. Expectations were high: Mexico is suffering from cartel crime, drug and human trafficking, economic problems and the growing pressure from the Trump administration in the USA, which hardly leaves Mexico in good stead. There were also riots before the opening game.
The Mexicans long for a successful World Cup as co-hosts, for something like a “summer fairy tale” that Germany experienced in 2006. If “El Tri” succeeds, they will be celebrated as heroes. If not, the mood will change very quickly.
What makes the coach confident: In competitive games, “El Tri” delivers under him, especially when the pressure increases – like in the triumph in the Gold Cup last summer. The opening game against South Africa already has a 2-0 win in the statistics, and the start to the 2026 World Cup has been a success.
However, what is this victory worth? The opponent from the Cape of Good Hope appeared in a pitiful condition, even South African TV experts were speechless after the game about their team’s weak performance. The pressure on the “El Tri”, the pride of Mexico, will hardly be less, because South Korea and the Czechs will also most likely score points against South Africa.
This is how Mexico qualified for the World Cup
As co-hosts, the Mexican national team is automatically included in the 2026 World Cup and therefore did not have to go through qualification. In eight test matches in the calendar year, they only managed one win (1-0 against Turkey). Three games were lost. But they impressed at the Gold Cup, where they triumphed with a 2-1 final victory over their arch-rivals USA.
These are Mexico’s opponents at the 2026 World Cup
Co-hosts Mexico are seeded as group leaders in the preliminary round of the 2026 World Cup. In Group A we face the following opponents:
South Africa – June 11 in Mexico City (final score 2:1): Before the tournament, South Africa was assessed as a physically robust team that primarily relies on speed and transition moments. But the “Bafana Bafana” were particularly disappointing tactically and technically, made outrageous mistakes in their own half of the game and achieved absolutely nothing on offense. In this form they are more of a points supplier than a serious candidate for the knockout phase.
South Korea – June 19, 1 a.m. (CET), in Guadalajara: Not only the German national team has known since the painful end of the 2018 World Cup: South Korea is an unpleasant opponent, especially at world championships. The team defends compactly, is strong and disciplined and looks for quick attacks on the wings. Mexico has to be extremely careful about counterattacks from the Asians. The Czechs also felt this at the start: the Asians turned around a 0-1 deficit and won 2-1.