FIFA has reaffirmed its support for Mexico as a host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs, releasing tickets for four inter-confederation playoff matches scheduled later this month.
The matches will take place in the cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey, where two final spots in the tournament will be decided.
Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron will host Pathway 1, featuring teams from Jamaica, New Caledonia and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Meanwhile, Estadio BBVA in Monterrey will stage Pathway 2, with Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq competing for qualification.
The playoffs will determine the final teams for the 2026 tournament. The winner of Pathway 1 will join a group featuring Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan, while the winner of Pathway 2 will face Norway, France and Senegal.
Tickets for the matches range from 200 to 300 Mexican pesos (about $11.50–$17.50) and are available through FIFA’s official website.
The matches in Guadalajara will proceed despite recent security concerns following the death of cartel leader Nemesio Ruben Oseguera Cervantes, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Authorities said the security situation in the country has since stabilized after a brief wave of unrest triggered by his death.
The playoff semifinals will be held on March 26, with the finals scheduled for March 31, determining the last two teams to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
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