Mexico meets Czechia to wrap up group stage

With first place already secured, El Tri returns to Mexico City for its Group A finale against Czechia, looking to carry momentum into the next round.

MEXICO CITY – The FIFA World Cup 2026 continues as Mexico faces Czechia in Group A on Wednesday, 9:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local) at Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico.

With victories over South Africa and Korea Republic, Mexico has sealed first place in its group and became the first nation book its spot in the Round of 32.

Luis Romo struck the lone goal in Mexico’s 1-0 win over Korea Republic last Thursday at Guadalajara Stadium. Romo became the second-oldest Mexican player to score in his FIFA World Cup debut, at 31 years and 13 days – surpassed only by Ricardo Pelaez, who also scored one goal against Korea Republic in 1998 at 35 years and 91 days.

Romo's goal was the 13th all-time goal scored by a CD Guadalajara player at the FIFA World Cup. The Chivas midfielder was not the only player to shine on his home field, as goalkeeper Raúl Rangel had spectacular saves to deliver his second consecutive clean sheet.

Manager Javier Aguirre has qualified Mexico to the Knockout Phase of the tournament for the third time in as many tries. Mexico also topped its group under Aguirre at Korea Japan 2002.

Regardless of the result, Mexico is booked to face a third-place team from either Group C, E, F, H or I in the Round of 32 on Tuesday, June 30, 9:00 PM ET (7:00 PM local), in Mexico City. El Tri will seek to arrive with a perfect record and keep its mark of zero goals conceded.

Mexico vs Czech Republic – Match Facts

• Mexico faced Czechoslovakia at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, earning a 3-1 victory in its final group-stage match. This will be Mexico’s first World Cup meeting with the Czech Republic since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s.

• The most recent meeting between the two nations came in a friendly played in Hong Kong in February 2000, with the Czech Republic claiming a 2-1 victory.

• Mexico has lost only two of its last 12 FIFA World Cup group-stage matches against European opposition (5 wins, 5 draws, 2 losses). Those defeats came against Portugal in 2006 (1-2) and Sweden in 2018 (0-3).

• El Tri will play its ninth FIFA World Cup match at Estadio Azteca, where it remains unbeaten with a record of six wins and two draws. Mexico has also won each of its last three World Cup matches at the venue without conceding a goal: 1-0 against Iraq and 2-0 against Bulgaria in 1986, as well as a 2-0 victory over South Africa in the current tournament.

• The Czech Republic remains without a win at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (1 draw, 1 loss). The last time it advanced from the group stage without winning a match was at Spain 1982, when it finished with two draws and one defeat.

• Mexico enters the final matchday of the group stage on a historic run of three consecutive FIFA World Cup victories. El Tri has also won both of its matches at the 2026 tournament without conceding a goal, matching its most recent streak of three consecutive World Cup clean sheets, achieved at Mexico 1986.

• All three of Mexico’s goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have come from open play. The last time El Tri scored more than three open-play goals in a single World Cup edition was at France 1998, when it recorded five.

• In addition to scoring one of Mexico’s three goals at the tournament, Julián Quiñones leads the team in total shot involvements with 10 (six shots and four chances created). He also tops the squad in completed dribbles (6), fouls won (5), and high-intensity pressing actions (60).

• Patrik Schick has scored six goals in nine appearances at major international tournaments for the Czech Republic (FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship). However, he is still searching for his first goal of the current World Cup and has attempted only two shots. In fact, he ranks just fifth among Czech players in expected goals (xG) at the tournament with 0.2.

• Edson Álvarez has completed 23 line-breaking passes in only 104 minutes of action at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, nearly double the total of any other Mexican player. Érik Lira ranks second on the team with 12 line-breaking passes in 166 minutes.