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Last Updated:June 11, 2026, 23:41 IST
Mexico became the first country to host matches at three different FIFA World Cups, while Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host matches in three separate editions.
Mexico become first country to host three FIFA World Cups. (Picture Credit: AP)
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday (June 11) with a match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. The opening match of this year’s football showpiece is being played at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City.
Follow Mexico vs South Africa FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A match
By hosting the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico has entered the history books as the first country to host matches at three different editions of the tournament. The North American nation previously served as the host of the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.
While both those editions were held entirely in Mexico, the 2026 tournament is being co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Mexico will host a total of 13 matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup across three venues: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium; capacity: 80,824), Estadio BBVA (Estadio Monterrey; capacity: 51,243), and Estadio Akron (Estadio Guadalajara; capacity: 45,664).
FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Mexico
| DATE | TEAMS | VENUE |
| June 11 | Mexico vs South Africa | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| June 11 | South Korea vs Czech Republic | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| June 14 | Sweden vs Tunisia | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| June 17 | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| June 18 | Mexico vs South Korea | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| June 20 | Tunisia vs Japan | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| June 23 | DR Congo vs Colombia | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| June 24 | Czech Republic vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| June 24 | South Africa vs South Korea | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| June 26 | Uruguay vs Spain | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara |
| June 29 | Round of 32 | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| June 30 | Round of 32 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| July 5 | Round of 16 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
Among countries that have hosted multiple FIFA World Cups, Mexico is followed by Italy (1934, 1990), France (1938, 1998), Brazil (1950, 2014), and the United States (1994, 2026*). The 1974 FIFA World Cup was held in West Germany, while reunified Germany hosted the 2006 edition of football’s premier international tournament.
Countries to host multiple FIFA World Cups
| HOST COUNTRY | EDITIONS |
| Mexico | 1970, 1986, 2026* (co-host) |
| Italy | 1934, 1990 |
| France | 1938, 1998 |
| Brazil | 1950, 2014 |
| USA | 1994, 2026* (co-host) |
| West Germany/Germany | 1974, 2006 |
By staging the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Estadio Azteca in Mexico City has also etched its name into the record books, becoming the first stadium in history to host matches at three different FIFA World Cup editions. The iconic venue previously hosted matches during the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, including the finals of both editions.
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About the Author
Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor
Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist with CNN-News18 since July 1, 2024, and covers cricket with a sharp eye for records, trends, and match analysis. Based in Noida, he has reported extensively on the...Read More
News sports football Mexico Create History, Become First Country to Host 3 FIFA World Cups
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