World Cup 2026 in Mexico City: Live News and Updates

June 18: Mexico beats South Korea 2-1 in Guadalajara; El Tri advances to knockouts

Match Time: 3:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. Central Mexico Time)

Mexico and South Korea battled in Guadalajara on June 18 with both teams fighting for first place in Group A. Mexico dominated possession but faced a spirited South Korean defense. Alexis Vega broke through in the 34th minute with a clinical finish to put El Tri ahead. South Korea equalized in the 61st minute through Cho Gue-sung, setting up a tense final 30 minutes. Mexico found the winner with six minutes remaining when Raúl Jiménez—who scored in the opening match—headed home a Roberto Alvarado cross for his second goal of the tournament. Mexico finishes Group A with six points and advances to the Round of 16 as group winners. South Korea’s tournament continues, but they now need a result against Czechia on June 25.

Key takeaways:

• Mexico beat South Korea 2-1 and wins Group A with two consecutive victories
• Raúl Jiménez scored his second goal of the World Cup to seal the win
• Mexico has now won their first two group matches for the second time in World Cup history
• South Korea remains in contention for an advance to the Round of 16
• The next Mexico match is June 24 against Czechia at Estadio Azteca (already qualified, but playing for pride)

June 17: Uzbekistan stuns Colombia 1-0; historic victory in Mexico City

Match Time: 7:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. Central Mexico Time)

Uzbekistan pulled off a stunning upset at Estadio Azteca on June 17, defeating Colombia 1-0 in their World Cup opener. The Uzbek side, appearing in the World Cup for the first time, put in a disciplined defensive performance and capitalized on a defensive lapse from Colombia in the 28th minute when midfielder Eldor Shomurodov fired a low shot past goalkeeper David Ospina. Colombia pressed for an equalizer throughout the second half but could not find the breakthrough. Uzbekistan’s victory is the tournament’s first major upset and sends shockwaves through Group K. Colombia’s tournament is far from over, but the team will need to regroup and bounce back against DR Congo on June 23.

Key takeaways:

• Uzbekistan 1-0 Colombia in a historic upset for the Uzbek national team
• Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup victory comes against a traditional South American power
• Colombia remains mathematically alive but must win against DR Congo to advance
• Estadio Azteca was packed despite the lack of Mexico participation, showing strong regional support
• Next match at the Azteca: Mexico vs Czechia on June 24 (Group A closer)

June 16: World Cup fever peaks; restaurants & bars report record business

As Mexico approaches the knockout stages, Mexico City’s hospitality sector is reporting record-breaking activity. Restaurants in popular neighborhoods like Condesa, Roma Norte, and Polanco are fully booked weeks out, with many adding extra seating and late-night seatings to accommodate World Cup viewers. Sports bars and casual dining venues report their busiest period in recent memory, with some venues implementing group reservations for larger parties. Hotels across the city are at near-capacity with tourists staying for consecutive matches, and tour operators report all stadium tour packages are sold through the end of the group stage.

The Zócalo Fan Fest continues to draw massive crowds daily, with over 80,000 visitors on match days. City officials have expanded shuttle services from Metro stations to the Fan Fest zone to handle the volume. Merchandise vendors report selling out of Mexico jerseys and official World Cup gear within hours of receiving new stock. The festive atmosphere extends to the streets—impromptu celebrations erupt after every Mexico win, with fans flooding Paseo de la Reforma and major plazas into the early morning hours.

Key takeaways:

• Mexico City’s tourism and hospitality economy is experiencing unprecedented demand
• Restaurant and hotel bookings are at capacity through the knockout stages
• The Zócalo Fan Fest is operating at or above capacity on match days
• Merchandise and official World Cup items are selling out rapidly
• The city’s nightlife and celebration culture is at peak World Cup energy

June 13: 200,000+ gather for World Cup parade; Mexico City celebrates culture & football

Mexico City’s World Cup parade on June 13 drew over 200,000 people to Paseo de la Reforma, one of the city’s most iconic avenues. The parade featured traditional Mexican cultural elements—papel picado, regional dancers, indigenous performers, and brass bands—interwoven with World Cup celebrations. Floats showcasing Mexican heritage rolled down the avenue as crowds in green jerseys cheered from sidewalks and rooftops. Local celebrities, athletes, and cultural figures participated, with appearances by current and former Mexican national team players.

The parade lasted over three hours and created one of the largest public gatherings in Mexico City since the tournament began. Street vendors sold food, drinks, and merchandise throughout the route, and the city deployed extensive security to manage the crowds. The atmosphere was celebratory and peaceful, with families, tourists, and locals all gathering to experience Mexican pride and World Cup excitement together. The parade reflected the broader cultural integration of the tournament into Mexico City’s identity—this is not just a sports event but a celebration of national heritage happening on one of the world’s biggest stages.

Key takeaways:

• Over 200,000 people attended the World Cup parade on Paseo de la Reforma
• The parade celebrated both Mexican culture and the World Cup tournament
• The event was family-friendly, well-organized, and incident-free
• Local tourism and street commerce benefited significantly from the gathering
• The parade demonstrated strong public support for the tournament and El Tri

June 12: What comes next at Estadio Azteca

The stadium goes quiet for a few days before Uzbekistan vs Colombia on June 17, which is Uzbekistan’s first-ever World Cup match and Colombia’s tournament opener. Mexico travels to Guadalajara to face South Korea on June 18 in an early battle for first place in Group A, since both teams won their openers. El Tri returns to Estadio Azteca on June 24 against Czechia to close out the group stage at home.

Key takeaways:

• Next match at Estadio Azteca: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, Wednesday, June 17
• Mexico plays South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18, with both teams on 3 points
• Mexico is back at the Azteca on June 24 against Czechia
• The Zócalo Fan Fest runs free daily through the end of the tournament, but it filled to capacity on opening day, so arrive early on Mexico match days

June 11: Mexico 2-0 South Africa in the opener

Mexico could not have scripted a better start. Julián Quiñones scored the first goal of the 2026 World Cup in the 9th minute, slipping a low shot through the goalkeeper’s legs, and Raúl Jiménez doubled the lead in the 67th with a header off a Roberto Alvarado cross. It was Jiménez’s first World Cup goal in his fourth World Cup, and the emotion showed. South Africa lost two players to red cards and finished with nine men, while Mexico’s César Montes was also sent off in stoppage time.

A capacity crowd of 80,824, almost entirely in green, packed the renovated stadium for the occasion.

Key takeaways:

• Quiñones scored the tournament’s first goal in the 9th minute
• This was Mexico’s first win in a World Cup opening match in tournament history
• 17-year-old Gilberto Mora became the youngest Mexican ever to play in a World Cup
• Estadio Azteca became the first stadium to host three World Cup opening matches (1970, 1986, 2026)
• Mexico tops Group A on goal difference ahead of South Korea, who beat Czechia 2-1 in Guadalajara the same day

June 11: A very Mexican opening ceremony

The opening ceremony rolled out about 90 minutes before kickoff with a circular stage built around a giant World Cup trophy styled like papel picado, the Mexican cut-paper craft. Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official tournament song “Dai Dai,” Maná played “Oye Mi Amor,” J Balvin arrived on a papier-mâché car, and Belinda joined Los Ángeles Azules for a pop-cumbia set. Lila Downs welcomed the crowd in Spanish, English, Mixtec, and Nahuatl, Alejandro Fernández sang the Mexican anthem, Tyla sang South Africa’s, and Salma Hayek made a surprise cameo.

We covered what was planned for the show in our preview of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony in Mexico City. Reviews of the ceremony itself were mixed, with praise for the color and star power and some grumbling that it felt rushed. The crowd did not seem to mind.

Key takeaways:

• Shakira and Burna Boy headlined with the official song “Dai Dai”
• The show leaned heavily on Mexican culture: papel picado staging, cumbia, and Indigenous languages
• This was the first of three opening ceremonies, with Toronto and Los Angeles hosting their own

June 11: Fan Fest sets a record, protests stay away from the match

The FIFA Fan Fest in the Zócalo opened at 9:30 AM as planned and blew past expectations, drawing more than 93,000 people on day one, reported as the largest opening-day crowd in Fan Fest history. City officials closed access before noon and redirected the overflow to other viewing sites, including the Festival Futbolero in Garibaldi. The one sour note was weather: heavy rain hit after the match and washed out the planned evening concert.

The teachers’ protest march that had threatened to reach the stadium never got there. Around 6,000 marchers headed up Calzada de Tlalpan, were stopped by a police cordon well short of the venue, and withdrew peacefully about two hours later. A separate group of masked protesters clashed briefly with police outside two stadium gates during the match, but the incident was contained and stayed outside the security perimeter. The match, the Fan Fest, and the citywide celebrations went on without disruption, and fans flooded Paseo de la Reforma and the Ángel de la Independencia after the final whistle.

Key takeaways:

• The Zócalo Fan Fest hit capacity with 93,000+ visitors, so plan to arrive in the morning on big match days
• The teachers’ strike continues, and so does the Zócalo encampment, but it did not disrupt the opener. Our article on the Mexico City protests ahead of the World Cup has the full background
• The city deployed its largest security operation ever, and the day passed without major incidents for visitors
• If the Fan Fest is full, the city has more than a dozen alternate viewing sites. Our guide to Where to Watch World Cup 2026 in Mexico City covers the best options

Upcoming matches at Estadio Azteca

• Uzbekistan vs Colombia, Wednesday, June 17 (Group K)
• Czechia vs Mexico, Wednesday, June 24 (Group A)
• Round of 32, Tuesday, June 30
• Round of 16, Sunday, July 5

Following the tournament from Mexico City

If you are in the city without match tickets, the free Zócalo Fan Fest screens every game, and the city’s sports bars and fan zones are in full World Cup mode. Start with our guide to Where to Watch World Cup 2026 in Mexico City. And if you are still landing accommodation between matches, our guide to Where to stay in Mexico City breaks down the best neighborhoods for the tournament.