Mexico gets its chance to make a statement on home soil as co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After missing the knockout rounds in 2022, El Tri will be aiming for a much stronger showing, with a quarterfinal run the benchmark for a program that has not reached that stage since 1986.
World Cup betting sites may not list Mexico among the leading title contenders, but Group A gives them a real opportunity to build momentum against South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. Ranked 15th in the FIFA World Rankings, Mexico will carry major expectations from its home crowd as it looks to turn hosting duties into a deep tournament run.
Below, we’ll break down Mexico’s winner odds, schedule, and possible route to the World Cup Final.
Mexico’s odds to win World Cup
Despite being co-hosts of the event, Mexico is not expected to raise the trophy. That being said, the co-hosts do have attractive World Cup odds at the top online sportsbooks for anyone who wants to take a chance with El Tri:
Mexico’s World Cup betting lines: Mexico vs. South Africa odds
Mexico opens its 2026 World Cup campaign with a Group A fixture against South Africa to begin the tournament on June 11. Current game odds are displayed below.
Mexico World Cup Schedule: Group A Opponents & Game Times
| Date | Time | Game | Location |
| Thursday, June 11 | 3 p.m. ET | South Africa | Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MX) |
| Thursday, June 18 | 9 p.m. ET | South Korea | Estadio Akron (Mexico City, MX) |
| Wednesday, June 24 | 9 p.m. ET | Czechia | Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MX) |
Mexico’s Path to 2026 World Cup Final
Reaching the Knockout Stages shouldn’t be too much of a problem for Mexico, which should have an easier time than their co-hosts, the United States and Canada.
Their toughest game is likely to be against Czechia, which is their final Group A fixture, but we imagine Mexico will qualify for the next stage sewn up by the time they face the European side.
What is more difficult to predict is where Mexico will finish in Group A. If they finish top of the Group, they’ll likely face Ghana in the Round of 32, followed by either Croatia or England in the Round of 16. If Mexico reaches the quarterfinals, its probable opponents will be Morocco or Brazil. If the co-hosts can get through that fixture, a potential semifinal against defending champion Argentina awaits. If Mexico makes it to the Final, they’ll likely face either France or Spain.
Let’s look at Mexico’s potential opponents if they finish second in Group A. They could potentially face fellow co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32, followed by a Round of 16 game against Morocco or Brazil, depending on where those two sides finish in their Group. Following on from that, a potential quarterfinal against France is on the cards, with a possible semifinal against Spain next.