A history of Mexico at the World Cup

Find out about Mexico’s history at the World Cup. Learn about their most famous victories, biggest wins, highest capped players, top scorers, and more!

Football is the most popular sport in Mexico, and the international team’s games draw millions of viewers at major tournaments. The squad has never been able to lift a World Cup, though, with the knockout phase of international football’s biggest competition often proving to be a difficult time for the country’s footie fans.

Things could change in 2026, however, as Mexico are set to share hosting duties with the USA and Canada. Could this be the year they finally turn their fate around and make history on their home turf?

We’ve decided to look back at some of Mexico’s most iconic World Cup moments, as well as their best players, their biggest wins, and their most heartbreaking defeats. Read on for a full history of Mexico’s World Cup performance.

What is Mexico’s World Cup record?

Although Mexico’s international team have won other major trophies, including 13 CONCACAF Gold Cups and a Confederations Cup, they’ve never found the same success in the World Cup. The team’s best performances have seen them reach the quarterfinals (in 1970 and 1986), but they have never progressed further.

In recent years, though, the Mexican team has been a reliable pick for breaking out of the group stages and advancing to the knockouts. From 1994 to 2018, they reached the Round of 16 at seven consecutive tournaments, until finishing third in their group at the 2022 tournament (behind Poland and the eventual winners, Argentina).

What is Mexico’s record against their group stage opponents?

Mexico will play in Group A of the 2026 World Cup. Their opponents include South Korea, South Africa, and a third team that is yet to be determined. This final team will be decided through qualification playoffs between four European teams: Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, and North Macedonia. 

South Africa and Mexico have met in international competition four times. The two sides first met in a friendly in October 1993, with Mexico winning 4-0. They would claim a second win in a June 2000 rematch, finishing with a 4-2 lead, before South Africa earned their first victory in the match-up at the 2005 Gold Cup. The two teams have only met once at the World Cup, in 2010, held in South Africa, resulting in a 1-1 draw. 

South Korea has a much more substantial track record against Mexico, having faced each other 15 times. Their first meeting was in the 1948 Olympic Games, where South Korea knocked Mexico out of the Round of 16 in a 5-3 win. The two teams have met in the World Cup twice, with Mexico winning both matches (3-1 in 1998 and 2-1 in 2018). As of 2026, South Korea hold five wins, Mexico hold eight, and the sides have tied twice. 

Of the possible teams Mexico could face as their final group-stage opponents, Denmark is the one they’ll be hoping to avoid most. The two sides have faced off seven times, with Denmark leading 4-2 over Mexico, plus one draw in 2013. The teams have only faced each other in friendlies, though, so this could be their first World Cup clash. 

Mexico has two victories over Ireland (including one at the 1994 World Cup), and Ireland has never beaten them, although the teams have tied on four occasions. 

The only game contested between the Czech Republic and Mexico was a friendly in February 2000, which ended in a 2-1 victory for the European side. Meanwhile, Mexico and North Macedonia have never faced each other in international competition, leaving an opportunity for a first-time match-up. 

Iconic Mexican World Cup memories

While Mexico may not have lifted a World Cup trophy yet, there are plenty of iconic moments that fans can reflect on, both positive and negative. Here’s a round-up of five memories that define Mexico’s World Cup record:

• Home turf dominance – In 1970, while Mexico was hosting the tournament, they claimed a 4-0 victory over El Salvador in a Group 1 game. This remains their best performance in a World Cup match, with Javier Valdivia claiming back-to-back goals.

• An undefeated group stage – Continuing their run of form on the home stage, Mexico went unbeaten during the 1986 World Cup, finishing at the top of Group B. They claimed victories over Belgium (2-1) and Iraq (1-0) and drew with Paraguay (1-1).

• Mexico nearly clinches a semifinal spot – The 1986 World Cup also saw Mexico claim their best finish in the tournament’s history. After a 2-0 win over Bulgaria in the Round of 16, they faced West Germany in a goalless quarterfinal, eventually falling 1-4 on penalties. To this day, it remains the only time Mexico has scored in a World Cup quarterfinal.

• The rise of ‘El Matador’ – Despite only playing in one edition of the tournament, Mexico’s top goalscorer at the World Cup is Luis Hernández, a.k.a ‘El Matador’. In 1998, he scored twice against South Korea in Mexico’s first group stage win, before claiming a third against the Netherlands. In the Round of 16, he made sure that Mexico went out in style, scoring once more in a 2-1 loss to West Germany.

• Another Hernández takes the crown – 20 years after Luis Hernández made history, his record was equalled by former Man Utd and West Ham striker Javier Hernández (no relation). He netted his first two goals in 2010, in a 2-0 win over France and a 3-1 loss to Argentina. Four years later, he scored in a 3-1 win over Croatia, before finally matching El Matador’s count against South Korea in 2018.

Mexico’s biggest World Cup wins

The best result Mexico has ever achieved in a World Cup match occurred on their home turf in 1970. During a Group 1 game against El Salvador, Javier Valdivia scored consecutive goals, with Javier Fragoso and Juan Ignacio Basaguren providing follow-ups. The match concluded in a 4-0 victory for Mexico.

The closest that Mexico has come to equalling this record is a 3-1 scoreline, which they have achieved on four separate occasions. The first was against Czechoslovakia in 1962, followed by South Korea (1998), Iran (2006), and Croatia (2014).

Mexico’s biggest World Cup defeats

In 1978, Mexico suffered the biggest defeat in their World Cup history, when West Germany won a Group 2 match 6-0. The Mexican side didn’t win any of their games in the group that year, finishing last and failing to qualify for the Round of 16.

Other monumental losses include a 1954 Group 1 match against Brazil (5-0) and a 1958 Group 3 match against Hungary (4-0).

Who has made the most World Cup appearances for Mexico?

Rafael Márquez and Andrés Guardado are tied as the most-capped players for Mexico in World Cup history. Both players have appeared in 19 matches across 5 tournaments, although Márquez leads in goals (3).

Here’s a list of all the players who have appeared the most times for Mexico’s team at the World Cup:

Who has scored the most World Cup goals for Mexico?

While Mexico may not have experienced the same World Cup success as other international teams, the country has produced some standout individual players over the years. Luis and Javier Hernández are tied as Mexico’s leading scorers at the World Cup, netting 4 goals apiece.

Here’s a full list of all the players who have racked up multiple goals for Mexico across their World Cup careers:

Can Mexico win their first World Cup this year?

Historically, Mexico’s best World Cup performances have been on their home turf, with both their best finishes coming at tournaments that they hosted (in 1970 and 1986).

This year, the country will host the competition for a third time, but their duties will be shared with the USA and Canada. While Mexican fans will be rooting for their team, the current World Cup tournament winner odds don’t seem to be in their favour, but anything could happen on the pitch!

One of Mexico’s must-watch players in the 2026 tournament will be Fulham striker Raúl Jiménez. With 44 goals for Team Mexico to his name, he’s one of the country’s most prolific goalscorers when it comes to international competitions.

AC Mlian striker Santiago Giménez is also expected to be a major player in Mexico’s World Cup hopes, with fans hoping he’ll recover from injury in time to put on an impressive performance.

You can also expect to see Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora make his World Cup debut in 2026. At just 17 years old, he’s a rising star who many expect to become a mainstay of the Mexican team.

How to bet on Mexico at the 2026 World Cup

You can find the latest FIFA World Cup betting odds at Betway, including the biggest markets across the tournament. Simply sign into your account (or register a new one) and enter your stake, then our betslip feature will show you your potential winnings. Once you’re happy, click ‘Place bet’, and watch out for the result.

Head over to the Betway site or use our mobile app through the App Store or Play Store to start your World Cup betting now!