Forget the United States, if you want to sample a quintessential World Cup this summer, head south of the border.
Despite hogging most of the matches, you'll be able to enter large swathes of the US and not realise the biggest single-sports event on the planet is taking place, while football isn't the number one sport in Canada either. Mexico is the only nation of the three where football dominates its sporting landscape.
Despite hosting just 13 matches across three cities, you won't be able to escape World Cup fever once the action gets underway. Andre Villarreal and Christian Galvan are US-born Mexican-Americans, but there are no split loyalties. It's definitely football, not soccer.
The passionate Mexico supporters front the English-speaking Futbol Asada YouTube channel, which covers the fortunes of the national team.
"We're Mexican-American but we grew up supporting the Mexico national team from day one," says Andre, speaking from Guadalajara, one of the country's three host cities.
"Americans aren't really passionate about the sport compared to Mexicans. In my opinion, the US national team doesn't have home-field advantage like Mexico.
"In terms of the atmosphere, the games in Mexico are going to feel more like a World Cup. Mexico will be the best country in terms of hosting this World Cup, in my opinion."
You'd have to be a certain age to recall the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, both held in the country. So what can the visiting foreign fans expect from a Mexican World Cup?
Andre says: "Expect a lot of partying and good vibes. The Mexican people always treat other fans really well."
Christian points out: "Guadalajara is actually the mariachi and tequila capital of the world, so expect a lot of that, all day, every day."
'Not quite ready'
So the fans are ready, but is the country's infrastructure? Hosting matches across three stadiums doesn't sound like the biggest undertaking, but Andre isn't convinced.
"I'll be honest, no," he admits. "I don't think the country is ready. It's not like they're completely not ready and they should cancel it, but here in Guadalajara, they're still fixing up some roads.
"They're still fixing up the transportation from the airport to make access to the stadium easier. In Mexico City, the Estadio Azteca has been getting renovated for the last two to three years. They should be finished up pretty soon, but they keep delaying it. It's not all bad, but they're not entirely ready."
MAKE THE MIRROR YOUR FIRST CHOICE! Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
Mexico prospects
A home World Cup is a dream for many fans and a strong run would make heroes of Javier Aguirre's squad but optimism isn't exactly overflowing.
Mexico have a track record of reaching World Cups – they haven't missed one since 1990 – and getting out of their group, but not much further.
At the last World Cup, they didn't even reach the knockout phase. That would be a complete disaster this time around, but their group looks favourable – South Africa, South Korea and one of Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or Ireland once the European play-offs are completed.
"The last two major tournaments [including the 2024 Copa America], they didn't even make it out of the group," reflects Andre, not counting the less-competitive Gold Cup, which Mexico won last year.
"That hardly happens because Mexico is known for getting out of the group. So fans are a bit desperate; they want to see a change.
"The current team is a bit average. We have players in Europe, but they don't really replicate their club form for the national team, aside from Raul Jimenez. There are still preparation games to come, but right now, fans aren't too optimistic.
"At this World Cup, we want to see the team win at least one knockout game. Being at home, there should be no excuses in my opinion."
Both are predicting last-16 exits.
World Cup 2026
Altitude advantage
Winning the group could hold the key to knockout-round hopes and potentially pave the way to a last-16 showdown against England in Mexico City, where the high altitude should work to the hosts' advantage.
Christian explains: "If we win our group, we'll play in Mexico City for the round of 32 and if we win that, we'll play in Mexico City again for the round of 16.
"It's lined up that if Mexico win our group and England win their group and they win their last-32 games, they would meet at the Azteca in the round of 16. If we finish second in the group, we'll go to LA for the round of 32. If we finish third and still get out the group, we'll go to Houston.
"It would be in everybody's best interests if Mexico advances [as group winners]. One, playing in Mexico City gives us way more of an advantage. Two, for the World Cup's sake, because if Mexico is not playing at the Azteca, which holds almost 100,000 fans, it's not going to get filled up for a round of 32 between, say, Korea and Scotland, even though I know Scotland fans travel well."
Andre adds: "Playing in LA would be like a home game but playing Mexico in Mexico City would be a lot to handle for opposing teams, even the big countries like Spain and France."
'Self-interest hurting national team'
A nagging question remains: why has a country as football-mad as Mexico never gone further than the quarter-finals? One theory revolves around self-interest at club level.
Almost half of the likely squad play their football in Europe, including Fulham's Jimenez, Inter Milan striker Santiago Gimenez, Genoa centre-back Johan Vasquez and promising midfielder Obed Vargas, who recently joined Atletico Madrid from Seattle Sounders.
Christian says: "About 10 to 12 [play in Europe] and most of them will probably start, with the other starters from La Liga MX. So we have four or five starters who play in the top leagues, then we have more who play in the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Greece…
"The players we have from the Mexican league are some of the best and have the potential to be in Europe, but that's a whole other issue."
So what is the issue? Christian explains: "Mexico has a huge problem. They just overprice their players, which turns off European teams.
"Every few months, Mexican players will get linked with Europe. There'll be reports of bids from clubs like Porto, PSV and Anderlecht – decent teams – but the Mexican clubs always reject them.
"They'd rather sell within the league because they can triple the price. A European team will offer, say, $4million - probably a fair price because the Mexican market is unproven – but they'll then sell them within La Liga MX for $12 to $15million. The player then stagnates by staying in the league. That happens way too often."
Andre adds: "Obed Vargas is Mexican-American like us and has never played in the Mexican league. He played in the MLS.
"I firmly believe that if he had been playing in the Mexican league, that transfer would never have happened. Those transfers are very rare because the clubs prefer to sell within their own league at higher prices.
"It's not just the clubs' fault. Some players get very comfortable playing in the Mexican league and are not ambitious enough to go to Europe.
"And in the last 10 years, the Mexican league has got rid of promotion and relegation, which has significantly dropped the level of the league and player development.
"There's been an accumulation of problems, including the national team not playing well. People have become fed up, but if they do well at the World Cup, they'll be back on the train. That's how people are here."
Christian quips: "Mexico fans are probably the most bipolar. If we lose one game, it's the end of the world, 'This team sucks, I prefer club over country.' The next time, the team wins, and they're the biggest fans in the world and the country goes crazy.
"The World Cup is legacy-defining. If they have a good World Cup, they'll be remembered as heroes. If they have a bad World Cup, they'll be remembered in a very bad well."
Who will win the World Cup? Have your say below!
If you can't see the poll, click here.
Wonderkid ready to light up tournament
One player the Mexican league will struggle to hold onto is 17-year-old wonderkid Gilberto Mora, who is being heavily linked with a move to a top European side.
Having made his top-flight debut at 15 and senior international bow at 16, the Tijuana attacking midfielder was part of the squad that won the Gold Cup, making him the youngest player ever to win a senior international tournament.
He is expected to be part of the World Cup squad, injury permitting, after he suffered a hernia problem in January.
Andre says: "He's Mexico's biggest talent. This kid has Real Madrid, Barcelona, the biggest teams in the world, keeping eyes on him.
"He was the best player at the [2025] under-20 World Cup in my opinion. At the World Cup, people are really going to find out who he is.
"A definite starter for Mexico and a top-three player in that roster because Mexico struggle to create chances. He's a light at the end of the tunnel. He creates, he's very smart. I think he'll be playing for a big team very soon."
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
