hen the draw for the World Cup finals comes around, one nation you always expect to see in the pots for the group stage is Mexico. This year’s tournament in Qatar is the eighth time in succession the North American country has qualified for the World Cup, and it’s a better competition with them in it — as there are few nations who have a following quite as colourful, passionate and loud as Mexico’s loyal fanbase.
The energy from the stands is often matched by the players on the pitch — despite the fact no other country in the world has played more games in the finals of the World Cup without reaching the showpiece match itself. That is perhaps a fair reflection of Mexico’s chances if you’re looking for a bet on World Cup, as while everybody expects to see them there, nobody expects them to really achieve anything of note.
They do manage to do themselves justice on the world’s grandest stage for the most part though, like reaching the round of 16 on each of their last eight appearances — overcoming some difficult groups, that have included the likes of Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, France, Brazil and Germany, to make the first knockout round.
However, they might be frustrated they have not managed to make the quarter-finals in that time. Of course, you could point to the defeats to likes of Germany in 1998, Argentina in 2006 and 2010 and the Selecao in 2018 in their defence. But the round of 16 losses to their rivals the United States in 2002 and Bulgaria on penalties in 1994 were opportunities to reach the last eight like they did in 1986 and 1970 — Mexico’s best runouts at the World Cup.
Things weren’t quite the same when they played hosting duties in 1970, however, as the first knockout round after the group stages was the quarter-finals due to less participants. But it’s worth noting as it was the first time they ever progressed from the groups — beating El Salvador and Belgium to take the second spot after drawing with the Soviet Union in their opening game, but Italy made easy work of El Tri in the quarters with a 4-1 win.
’86, again in Mexico, is the only time they have made the quarters in the World Cup’s current format. Again unbeaten in the group, dispatching of Belgium and Iraq either side of a draw with Paraguay this time to take the top spot, Mexico beat Bulgaria in the round of 16. But eventual runners-up West Germany beat them on penalties in the last eight.
Fast forward to today, and despite being in a state of transition, Mexico entered the Qatar-based tournament with the expectation of making out of Group C in the World Cup betting tips. However, a 0-0 draw with Poland and a 2-0 defeat to Argentina made it an uphill climb to progress.
In four years’ time, the World Cup will return to their shores — as Estadio Azteca, Estadio BBVA and Estadio Akron in Mexico will be used alongside a string of other stadiums in the US and Canada to host the 2026 tournament. Work will need to be done to improve their squad to have a real crack at things, however, as Mexico have the second-oldest team in Qatar.