Ambassador: Mexico Ready to Welcome Millions for World Cup 2026

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – With just one week remaining, the countdown to the World Cup 2026 is officially underway. The World Cup 2026 will make history as the first edition to take place in three countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Starting in Mexico on June 11, the tournament culminates with the final in New Jersey on July 19. While Canada will host World Cup matches for the first time, Mexico previously staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986, and the United States hosted the event in 1994.

Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is confirmed to be the venue for the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. In a recent episode of Voice of Indonesia’s World Cup program, Soccer Fiesta, Ambassador of Mexico to Indonesia Francisco de la Torre Galindo highlighted the significance of Mexico hosting the tournament.

“It matters a lot. It’s the third time that Mexico will have a World Cup, the only country in the world,” Ambassador Galindo said. In Mexico, World Cup matches will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey.

The Ambassador called Monterrey as an amazing industrial city in the north of Mexico. The people share the same passion for football and for welcoming people.

Ambassador Galindo added that Mexico is ready for the 2026 World Cup opening, welcoming millions of people. “We're absolutely ready to receive everyone in Mexico. Mexico is one of top five countries in the world that receives tourists every year more than 60 million people, so we think that many people will travel for the World Cup,” he said.

Asked about Mexico’s chances at the 2026 World Cup, the Ambassador hoped that the team would deliver an outstanding performance for the Mexicans. From the tournament’s youngest player, Gilberto Mora to the experienced Guillermo Ochoa, Mexico is expected to deliver a strong performance.

El Tri is in Group A alongside South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. Mexico will open the 2026 World Cup against South Africa on Thursday, June 11.

The opening match marks a historic return to the 2010 World Cup opener, where Mexico and South Africa played to a 1-1 draw. The match will open the expanded 48-team World Cup, the first of 104 games in the tournament.