Billy HeyenTue, November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM UTC·1 min readMexico's first 2026 World Cup opponent will be chosen from these 11 teams at FIFA draw originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe co-hosts Mexico will be on the pitch.
On Tuesday, the soccer world learned who the opponent might be.
FIFA announced its draw procedures, which revealed which teams will be in which selection pot for the draw on Dec. 5.
It's now known which teams could wind up drawn to play in that opener against El Tri.
It will come down to one of these 11 teams for the opener against Mexico, via Football Meets Data:
Norway
Egypt
Algeria
Scotland
Paraguay
Tunisia
Cote d'Ivoire
Uzbekistan
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
MORE: FIFA makes shocking Cristiano Ronaldo red card decision
There are certainly a couple of marquee possibilities there.
Mexico against Egypt and Mo Salah? Sign us up.
Mexico clashing with Norway and Erling Haaland? Yes please.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThere are a lot of fascinating footballing histories among the rest of the teams on the list.
This is the first 48-team edition of the World Cup, which has allowed for more variety of countries.
Mexico qualified automatically, along with the United States and Canada, by being one of the hosts.
The opening match will be played on Thursday, June 11. Only a bit more than six months away.
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