Mexico are already up and running: El Tri beat South Africa 2-0 in the tournament opener on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca — the third World Cup staged at the most storied venue in the sport. Here is the complete Group A guide: remaining fixtures in ET, Aguirre’s squad, and how to watch in the US.
Group A: the lay of the land
As top hosts, Mexico drew Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Czechia. The opening 2-0 win banked three points against arguably the group’s most athletic side; South Korea in Guadalajara and Czechia back at the Azteca complete the schedule.
Every Mexico group match is on home soil at altitude — Mexico City sits at 7,300 feet — the single biggest home-field advantage any team enjoys in this tournament.
Mexico fixtures: Group A schedule (ET)
Mexico’s group-stage schedule, with venues and Eastern Time kickoffs from the official tournament schedule.
| Date (2026) | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, June 11 | South Africa (won 2-0) | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | Played | FOX / Telemundo |
| Thu, June 18 | South Korea | Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Guadalajara) | 11:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
| Wed, June 24 | Czechia | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 9:00 PM | FOX or FS1 / Telemundo |
The Azteca is the first stadium ever to host three World Cups — 1970, 1986 and now 2026. Its full story is in our history of the Azteca’s third opening.
The squad: Aguirre’s 26
Javier Aguirre — in his third stint as national team boss — built his 26 around captain Edson Álvarez, with Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez sharing the striker load and Alexis Vega supplying the creativity. In goal, the evergreen Guillermo Ochoa is in the squad for a sixth World Cup.
It is a roster built for pragmatism rather than stardust: experienced spine, defined roles, and the loudest twelfth man in the tournament behind it.
World Cup pedigree
Seventeen World Cup appearances, two home quarterfinals (1970, 1986) — and the most famous ceiling in the sport: Mexico have been eliminated in the round of 16 in seven consecutive tournaments they reached the knockouts, the “quinto partido” curse. Breaking it at home, at the Azteca, is the entire national project of this World Cup.
Tactical profile
Aguirre sets up in a compact 4-3-3 that defends in a disciplined mid-block and attacks with width and early service — a deliberate contrast to the possession idealism of recent cycles. Against South Africa the plan worked exactly as drawn: control without overextension, and clinical efficiency on the chances created.
The altitude factor compounds everything: opponents visibly lose pressing intensity in the final half hour at 7,300 feet, exactly when Mexico’s bench depth and crowd kick in.
How to watch in the USA
Every Mexico match airs in English on FOX or FS1 with streaming on the FOX Sports app — and in Spanish on Telemundo or Universo, where El Tri drive the largest US audiences of any national team, with all matches streaming on Peacock.
Window-by-window detail is in our US broadcast guide; official team news runs on FIFA’s tournament site.
FAQ
Did Mexico win their World Cup 2026 opener?
Yes. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the opening match of the tournament.
When does Mexico play next at World Cup 2026?
Mexico face South Korea on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 11:00 PM ET (9:00 PM local) at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Greater Guadalajara.
What is the quinto partido?
The “fifth game” — the World Cup quarterfinal Mexico have not reached since 1986. El Tri have fallen in the round of 16 (game four) in seven straight knockout appearances.
What channel are Mexico matches on in the USA?
In English on FOX or FS1 (FOX Sports app for streaming); in Spanish on Telemundo or Universo, with every match streaming on Peacock.