The Estadio Azteca, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, will welcome the opening match on 11 June. Mexico is hoping that football can emerge from the chaos surrounding this World Cup. It may be time to forget the sullied buildup and enjoy the tournament, though co-hosts are not optimistic.
In Mexico City, it has been impossible to go anywhere without seeing Hugo Sanchez, the former Real Madrid striker, trying to sell something. Raul Jimenez appears on billboards, and Toluca's Alexis Vega on a few others, but Sanchez remains the king. Football adverts dominate. At the airport, a Fifa sign blocks the view of the arrivals lane for foreign passport holders, a metaphor for immigration procedures that are surprisingly straightforward. Amid endless traffic worsened by a teachers' strike and protests, women sell knock-off Mexico shirts.
Pre-Tournament Atmosphere
Does this constitute pre-tournament mania? Perhaps not. Murals in Coyoacan now feature football elements, with Frida Kahlo's stern disapproval seemingly directed at them. Flags hang from walls and ceilings in bars and cafes, but the excitement of waiters and taxi drivers at meeting someone attending the World Cup suggests no great influx yet. Traffic jams indicate excitement, but few expect much from the Mexican side, and many feel frustrated being a sideshow to Donald Trump's main event.
The chaotic city has become more chaotic, with further demonstrations planned by teachers, retired judges, and activists for the disappeared. The World Cup hasn't begun yet.
Controversies and Format
This World Cup is steeped in ignominy: visa issues, ticket prices, and Gianni Infantino's subservience to Trump. It's unlikely but not impossible that general disgust could lead to a reform movement for Fifa. Yet a football tournament is about to break out, starting with Thursday's opener between Mexico and South Africa, and South Korea vs. Czechia.
Even a best-case scenario suggests a slow burn, with 72 group games to eliminate teams ranked 33rd to 48th. The final round of groups will involve two qualified sides, reducing jeopardy. When it arrives in the last 32, it may come too suddenly. Argentina recovered from an opening defeat in 2022 to win, but losing at the last-32 stage this year would mean elimination. This format, seemingly conjured by Infantino during the 2022 World Cup, is not well-conceived.
Mexico's Prospects
Mexico lost form after winning the Concacaf Gold Cup last year, failing to win any of their final six friendlies. They have rebounded, winning six of eight and drawing against Belgium and Portugal. It's unclear if Vega fits Javier Aguirre's 4-3-3, but a 5-1 win over Serbia suggests peaking at the right time. South Africa's renaissance from their 2023 Cup of Nations semi-final has faded; they disappointed at the 2025 Cup of Nations, eliminated by Cameroon, and haven't won friendlies since.
Mexico reached the quarter-finals in their two previous hosted World Cups. To do so this time, they would likely need to beat England in the last 16. England are one of four seeds kept apart until the semi-finals, but they may be afflicted by exhaustion due to the Premier League's intensity.
Fatigue and Favorites
After the Club World Cup and expanded Champions League, and given heat and humidity, fatigue is a bigger issue than ever. Spain were impressive winning Euro 2024, with a midfield to hold possession, but injuries to key forwards may reduce their directness.
The longer tournament means managing minutes is crucial. France has the deepest squad. Didier Deschamps may be cautious, but a safety-first approach with sparkling forwards may be enough. France and Spain look strong favorites. Argentina relies on Lionel Messi, who turns 39 during the tournament, while Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, may hinder Portugal. Brazil has midfield issues, injuries plague the Netherlands, while Morocco, Senegal, and Japan could challenge.
All that seems far off. With almost six weeks to the final, the lack of group-stage intensity explains the focus on Trump- and Fifa-related outrages rather than football. Anger at World Cups tends to dissipate once the tournament starts. This time, perhaps the disgust is too great, or the bloated group stage too vague. Or perhaps Vega tees up Jimenez in the opener, everyone forgets the negativity, and even Frida Kahlo smiles.
