The Mexican dream at this World Cup can be summed up in a phrase: “And what if we do?” The question omits the ending — and what if we do win? — but captures the hope of two generations of Mexicans who were used to defeats and have waited 40 years to see their national team make it to the quarterfinals, something that could happen on Sunday (July 5, 2026) if it beats England.

The phrase — “Y si sí?” in Spanish — is also a chant repeated by millions of young people who now have something to believe in, unite them and fill them with excitement: a revamped team that has surprised them since the start of the tournament and remains undefeated without conceding a goal. “We’ve already broken the curse,” says Elián González, a 22-year-old nursing student.

“This team has given us so much hope. There are so many young players, that’s what has given us a boost and what can take us to the final,” said the young woman from a suburb of the capital, whose mother instilled in her a passion for soccer.

Analysts don’t have high expectations for Mexico to make it to the final, but fans dare to ask: What if they can? Playing at home is key. On Sunday (July 5, 2026) Mexicans are ready to celebrate again in the match against England, where Mexico can match its best-ever result: from the 1986 and 1970 World Cups, both held on home soil. Mexico’s history of victories at Estadio Azteca is in its favour, as is the city’s altitude of more than 2,200 metres (7,200 feet).

The English team knows it and has another concern: its opponent’s fans. England has tried to keep secret its base hotel to prevent Mexican supporters from repeating the unbearable serenade they gave Ecuador the night before that match. Some English fans have said on social media that they fear Mexico more than Brazil.

While memes are multiplying, pitting iconic figures from each country against each other — Cantinflas versus James Bond, Freddie Mercury versus Juan Gabriel — and bands such as Oasis and Maná have started their predictions, Mexico fans haven’t stopped celebrating since the team’s victory in the opening match against South Africa.

Some might think the viral videos showing the Mexican euphoria are made by artificial intelligence, says David Cávita, 26, but no. “Here, they can make anything fly,” he said, referring to the trend of fans being tossed into the air and then caught by the crowd.

“The vibe here, I’ve never felt anything like it, never in my life, for anything,” says his friend, Esteban Bautista, 21, an engineering student. “We can have the best World Cup ever at home.”

Mexico and the World Cup: an overflowing infatuation

The power of soccer to unite and inspire is well known, but some believe that in Mexico it goes even further. “What we’re seeing is like a passionate, overflowing infatuation,” especially among young people who want to feel part of something, leave their frustrations behind, and are supporting a team marked by youth, explains Carlos Cruz, 54, founder of a non-profit that works with teenagers and now a city official.

Mexico has the youngest player in the tournament, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, and a naturalised Mexican citizen from a region of Colombia known for drug violence and poverty, Julián Quiñones, both symbols for many, says Cruz.

“Mora is the one who gave us that hope that Mexicans can achieve anything they want,” says Areli Navarrete, a teenager who only recently became interested in football.

“We have a team that has played with passion, and we are eager, anxious, desperate for something to celebrate,” said Omar Gutiérrez, a 46-year-old market analyst who played in the youth ranks of several Mexican teams.

Taking to the streets

Despite the four deaths when more than a million people took to the streets to celebrate Mexico’s victory against Ecuador Tuesday (July 30, 2026), no one doubts that the capital’s centre will be even more crowded on Sunday (July 5, 2026).

Francisco Guerra’s sons, the 15-year-old triplets Patricio, Jerónimo, and Juan Pablo, have watched three games live, wearing the jerseys of their second-favorite national teams, such as Germany and England, although the latter — Patricio jokes — might end up burned on Sunday. The family has strong ties with an English family with whom they share a chat group that is currently muted.

They dream of going to the Angel of Independence — the iconic location for the celebrations — to see Sunday’s game. Their father is reluctant, although Mexico City has promised more security measures and capped attendance.

Joshua Zayas, 19, will definitely go. He says all it takes is a little caution. “We’ll buy foam, jump around, dance and de-stress, especially now that we just finished the semester at university. It’s really nice to see how we can come together.” And if Mexico doesn’t win? “We’ll be incredibly depressed, and who knows how we’ll react,” Zayas said. “But let’s hope they do advance.”

Published – July 04, 2026 02:19 pm IST

The Round of 32 match between England and the Democratic Republic of Congo is underway at the Atlanta stadium in Atlanta, on July 1, 2026.

Also read | FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout schedule: Matches in Indian Time

The Leopards have reached the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time. After drawing with Portugal, losing narrowly to Colombia and defeating Uzbekistan, they arrive believing they can frustrate another European heavyweight.

England, meanwhile, topped Group L with victories over Croatia and Panama, besides a goalless draw against Ghana. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane found the target in the opening and final group games, while Tuchel remains unbeaten in competitive matches as England coach.

Also read | An immortal idea: When a sport brings a martyr to life

The FIFA World Cup began on June 10 and ends with the final on July 20.

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FIFA’s logo is seen in front of its headquarters in Zurich.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The 23rd FIFA World Cup will be held between June 11, 2026 and July 19, 2026. The quadrennial men’s soccer tournament will be jointly hosted by sixteen cities — eleven in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

This is first time that a FIFA World Cup is to be hosted by three nations and also for the first time fans can witness 48 teams participating in the mega event. It was expanded from 32.

The 48 countries are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each. In the group stage, there are 72 matches to be played. The round of 32 fixtures start on June 28, 2026. Round of 16 on July 4 while quarterfinals will start on July 9.

The semifinal will be on July 14 and July 15. While the bronze medal match will be on July 18 and the mega event comes to an end with the finals on July 19, 2026.

The Groups

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia

Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Hepzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Cote D’lvoire, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

The schedule (Group Stage matches)

June 11, 2026

Mexico v South Africa – Mexico City Stadium

Korea Republic v Czechia – Estadio Guadalajara

June 12, 2026

Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina – Toronto Stadium

USA v Paraguay – Los Angeles Stadium

June 13, 2026

Haiti v Scotland – Boston Stadium

Australia v Türkiye – BC Place Vancouver

Brazil v Morocco – New York New Jersey Stadium

Qatar v Switzerland – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

June 14, 2026

Côte d’Ivoire v Ecuador – Philadelphia Stadium

Germany v Curaçao – Houston Stadium

Netherlands v Japan – Dallas Stadium

Sweden v Tunisia – Estadio Monterrey

June 15, 2026

Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Miami Stadium

Spain v Cabo Verde – Atlanta Stadium

IR Iran v New Zealand – Los Angeles Stadium

Belgium v Egypt – Seattle Stadium

June 16, 2026

France v Senegal – New York New Jersey Stadium

Iraq v Norway – Boston Stadium

Argentina v Algeria – Kansas City Stadium

Austria v Jordan – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

June 17, 2026

Ghana v Panama – Toronto Stadium

England v Croatia – Dallas Stadium

Portugal v Congo DR – Houston Stadium

Uzbekistan v Colombia – Mexico City Stadium

June 18, 2026

Czechia v South Africa – Atlanta Stadium

Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina – Los Angeles Stadium

Canada v Qatar – BC Place Vancouver

Mexico v Korea Republic – Estadio Guadalajara

June 19, 2026

Brazil v Haiti – Philadelphia Stadium

Scotland v Morocco – Boston Stadium

Türkiye v Paraguay – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

USA v Australia – Seattle Stadium

June 20, 2026

Germany v Côte d’Ivoire – Toronto Stadium

Ecuador v Curaçao – Kansas City Stadium

Netherlands v Sweden – Houston Stadium

Tunisia v Japan – Estadio Monterrey

June 21, 2026

Uruguay v Cabo Verde – Miami Stadium

Spain v Saudi Arabia – Atlanta Stadium

Belgium v IR Iran – Los Angeles Stadium

New Zealand v Egypt – BC Place Vancouver

June 22, 2026

Norway v Senegal – New York New Jersey Stadium

France v Iraq – Philadelphia Stadium

Argentina v Austria – Dallas Stadium

Jordan v Algeria – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

June 23, 2026

England v Ghana – Boston Stadium

Panama v Croatia – Toronto Stadium

Portugal v Uzbekistan – Houston Stadium

Colombia v Congo DR – Estadio Guadalajara

June 24, 2026

Scotland v Brazil – Miami Stadium

Morocco v Haiti – Atlanta Stadium

Switzerland v Canada – BC Place Vancouver

Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar – Seattle Stadium

Czechia v Mexico – Mexico City Stadium

South Africa v Korea Republic – Estadio Monterrey

June 25, 2026

Curaçao v Côte d’Ivoire – Philadelphia Stadium

Ecuador v Germany – New York New Jersey Stadium

Japan v Sweden – Dallas Stadium

Tunisia v Netherlands – Kansas City Stadium

Türkiye v USA – Los Angeles Stadium

Paraguay v Australia- San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

June 26, 2026

Norway v France – Boston Stadium

Senegal v Iraq – Toronto Stadium

Egypt v IR Iran – Seattle Stadium

New Zealand v Belgium – BC Place Vancouver

Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia – Houston Stadium

Uruguay v Spain – Estadio Guadalajara

June 27, 2026

Panama v England – New York New Jersey Stadium

Croatia v Ghana – Philadelphia Stadium

Algeria v Austria – Kansas City Stadium

Jordan v Argentina – Dallas Stadium

Colombia v Portugal – Miami Stadium

Congo DR v Uzbekistan – Atlanta Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 32 fixtures

June 28, 2026

Match 73 – Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up – Los Angeles Stadium

June 29, 2026

Match 74 – Group E winners v Group A/B/C/D/F third place – Boston Stadium

Match 75 – Group F winners v Group C runners-up – Estadio Monterrey

Match 76 – Group C winners v Group F runners-up – Houston Stadium

June 30, 2026

Match 77 – Group I winners v Group C/D/F/G/H third place – New York New Jersey Stadium

Match 78 – Group E runners up v Group I runners-up – Dallas Stadium

Match 79 – Group A winners v Group C/E/F/H/I third place – Mexico City Stadium

July 1, 2026

Match 80 – Group L winners v Group E/H/I/J/K third place – Atlanta Stadium

Match 81 – Group D winners v Group B/E/F/I/J third place – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Match 82 – Group G winners v Group A/E/H/I/J third place – Seattle Stadium

July 2, 2026

Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up – Toronto Stadium

Match 84 – Group H winners v Group J runners-up – Los Angeles Stadium

Match 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place – BC Place Vancouver

July 3, 2026

Match 86 – Group J winners v Group H runners-up – Miami Stadium

Match 87 – Group K winners v Group D/E/I/J/L third place – Kansas City Stadium

Match 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up – Dallas Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 fixtures

July 4, 2026

Match 89 – Winner match 74 v Winner match 77 – Philadelphia Stadium

Match 90 – Winner match 73 v Winner match 75 – Houston Stadium

July 5, 2026

Match 91 – Winner match 76 v Winner match 78 – New York New Jersey Stadium

Match 92 – Winner match 79 v Winner match 80 – Mexico City Stadium

July 6, 2026

Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84 – Dallas Stadium

Match 94 – Winner match 81 v Winner match 82 – Seattle Stadium

July 7, 2026

Match 95 – Winner match 86 v Winner match 88 – Atlanta Stadium

Match 96 – Winner match 85 v Winner match 87 – BC Place Vancouver

FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal fixtures

July 9, 2026

Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 – Boston Stadium

July 10, 2026

Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 – Los Angeles Stadium

July 11, 2026

Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 – Miami Stadium

Match 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 – Kansas City Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal fixtures

July 14, 2026

Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 – Dallas Stadium

July 15, 2026

Match 102 – Winner match 99 v Winner match 100 – Atlanta Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026 bronze final

July 18, 2026

Match 103 – Runner-up match 101 v Runner-up match 102 – Miami Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

July 19, 2026

Match 104 – Winner match 101 v Winner match 102 – New York New Jersey Stadium