Highest FIFA Ranking: 4 (last, June 2006)
Lowest FIFA Ranking: 40 (July 2015)
Football Team Nickname: El Tri
Honours:
CONCACAF Championship/Gold Cup (13): 1965, 1971, 1977, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023, 2025
Nations League (1): 2025
Confederations Cup (1): 1999
Head coach: Javier Aguirre (third spell, since July 2024)
Star players: Raul Jimenez (Fulham), Hirving Lozano (San Diego FC), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol)
Will host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Co-hosts Mexico are appearing at their 9th consecutive World Cup – after a run of seven straight Round of 16 exits they failed to progress from the group stage in 2022 (their first group stage exit since 1978).
They have not won a knockout stage match since they were hosts in 1986 and were unbeaten in all 5 matches at that World Cup, only losing on penalties to West Germany in the quarter-final (a match in which current head coach Javier Aguirre was sent-off).
Also reached the quarter-final as hosts in 1970, losing 4-1 against Italy.
Reappointed in 2024, Javier Aguirre is now in his third spell in charge, previously having stints in 2001-02 and 2009-10, leading them to the Round of 16 at both the 2002 and 2010 World Cup. Has led them to Nations League and Gold Cup titles in his current spell. He started all 5 matches as a player at 1986 World Cup.
This will be their third tournament as hosts/co-hosts, more than any other nation.
How the hosts have fared:
Stage reached as host nation Number of teams
Winners 6 (Uruguay ’30, Italy ’34, England ’66, W Germany ’74, Argentina ’78, France ’98)
Runners-up 2 (Brazil ’50, Sweden’ 58)
Semi-finals 5 (Chile ’62, Italy ’90, Korea Republic ’02, Germany ’06, Brazil ’14)
Quarter-finals 5 (France ’38, Switzerland ’54, Mexico ’70, Mexico ’86, Russia ’18)
Round of 16 2 (USA ’94, Japan ’02)
Second group stage 1 (Spain ’82)
Group stage 2 (South Africa ’10, Qatar ‘22)
Previous World Cup appearances (17):
2022: Group stage (Argentina, Poland, Saudi Arabia)
2018: Round of 16
2014: Round of 16
2010: Round of 16
2006: Round of 16
2002: Round of 16
1998: Round of 16
1994: Round of 16
1986: Quarter-final
1978: Group stage
1970: Quarter-final
1966: Group stage
1962: Group stage
1958: Group stage
1954: Group stage
1950: Group stage
1930:Group stage
