Overview
- Mexico will launch the tournament against South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca and host 13 matches overall, split across Mexico City (5), Guadalajara (4) and Monterrey (4).
- FIFA’s operational updates include 26‑player squads, mandatory hydration pauses in hot conditions and head‑to‑head results as the primary group‑stage tiebreaker, with full benches authorized.
- Spain vs Uruguay, one of the standout group fixtures, is set for Guadalajara, drawing attention to kick‑off timing as Spain returns to the city 40 years after Mexico ’86.
- Iran and Haiti are slated to play their group matches in U.S. venues despite recent U.S. visa denials to Iranian officials, with Iran opening June 15 in Los Angeles and Haiti playing June 13 in Boston.
- Mexico’s build‑up includes officially confirmed March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, while additional tune‑ups such as Iceland, Panama and Bolivia are being reported but remain unconfirmed; Opta’s model lists Spain (17%), France (14.1%) and England (11.8%) as early title favorites.