The Mexican Football Federation has unveiled a comprehensive preparatory schedule for its national team ahead of co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The strategic plan commences with three international friendlies against Panama, Bolivia, and Iceland during the early months of the new year.
Mexico’s national squad will embark on a South American tour starting January 22nd, facing Panama at Rommel Fernández Stadium. The team will subsequently travel to Bolivia for a match at Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera Costas Stadium in Santa Cruz on January 25th. The preparation series concludes with a home fixture against Iceland on February 25th at Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro.
Notably, these initial matches will feature exclusively domestic-based players since they fall outside FIFA’s official international windows. This selection strategy provides an opportunity for Liga MX talents to demonstrate their capabilities at the international level.
The preparation intensifies in March when head coach Javier Aguirre will have access to his complete roster for two significant encounters. Mexico faces Portugal on March 28th during the highly anticipated reopening ceremony of the iconic Azteca Stadium, followed by a challenging match against Belgium at Soldier Field in Chicago.
As tournament co-hosts, El Tri is scheduled to inaugurate the 2026 World Cup with a crucial opening match against South Africa on June 11th. These friendly matches represent critical building blocks in Mexico’s quest to overcome their recent competitive struggles, having concluded 2025 without a victory in their final six matches.