Mexico City, Mexico — President Claudia Sheinbaum participated in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw in Washington Friday. During the draw, it was determined that the Mexican National Team will be the top seed in Group A and play against the national teams of South Africa, South Korea and the winner of the playoff between Denmark, Ireland, North Macedonia and the Czech Republic.
“We are proud to host the World Cup for the third time. Mexico is an extraordinary, beautiful, magical country, and millions will visit our nation. Furthermore, I want to tell you that we have an extraordinary, hardworking people.We have enjoyed the game since ancient times,” she said from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The draw was attended by the leaders of the three host countries of the World Cup which included U.S. President Donald Trump and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.
Mexico, the first country in history to host a World Cup for the third time, will host thirteen matches next year.
Those matches will be held in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Jalisco and Monterrey, Nuevo León, including the opening match of the competition between Mexico and South Africa on June 11, 2026 at the Mexico City Stadium, making it the only stadium to host three World Cup opening matches.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, will be the first in history to feature 48 national teams in a format of 12 groups of four teams.
President Claudia Sheinbaum says Mexico will receive 5.5 million visitors for the FIFA World Cup next year. FIFA Mexico’s CEO, Jürgen Mainka, indicated that this edition of the World Cup will be an ambitious event as it will hold 104 matches in 39 days with the participation of 48 national teams.
