El Tri Opens the World Cup

Mexico confirmed their final World Cup squad on June 1 and immediately have the most pressure of any team in the tournament: they kick off the entire 2026 World Cup on June 11 against South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the second-largest stadium in the world, in the nation's capital, in front of a home crowd that has never been louder for a single football match. Co-host status means Mexico's group stage is played on home soil. The expectation is advancement; anything less would be a national crisis.

The Squad

Santiago Giménez (Feyenoord/AC Milan) leads the attack as Mexico's most complete striker in years — a player who scores regularly in the Eredivisie and Ligue 1 against European-level opposition. Hirving "Chucky" Lozano remains in the squad, as does Raúl Jiménez. The midfield includes Edson Álvarez, who has been one of the better defensive midfielders in the Premier League at West Ham. Mexico's depth is real — they have European-based professionals at most positions.

Group A — South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

Mexico's group is manageable on paper. South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia are all capable of taking points but none are World Cup powers. Mexico should advance. The question that haunts every Mexico World Cup campaign is what happens in the Round of 16 — they have been eliminated in the round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cups, a run that their community in NYC's El Barrio and Corona Queens discusses before every tournament with the fatalism of people who have been here before.

El Barrio and Corona Queens

New York's Mexican community — in East Harlem (El Barrio), Corona, Sunset Park, and Port Richmond — will be watching Mexico's June 11 opening match like few sporting events this city has seen. The match is at 4pm ET. Every restaurant on 116th Street in El Barrio and every bar on Roosevelt Avenue in Corona will have screens on from noon. Jackson Heights will mix Colombia and Mexico supporters on adjacent streets. The co-host energy is real: this is the World Cup that comes to Mexico, and Mexico's New York community is celebrating it as their own.