The fate of the Mexican national team in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup will be decided in Mexico City and Guadalajara. The Monterrey venue was not included in the Tricolor’s matches, a decision that Nuevo Leon governor Samuel Garcia accepts but questions, as he believes that the state should have been taken into account
One of the relevant details for the official is the geographical area due to its proximity to Texas. He sees Nuevo Leon as a strategic point for the benefit of different fans: Mexican, American, Latinos living in the United States and foreigners who will arrive in the country for the event.
In Nuevo Leon we have the newest and most beautiful stadium, and it is the closest to Texas, which is the state that consumes the most soccer and pays the most
The governor finds it incomprehensible that this aspect was not taken into account when deciding the schedule of Mexico’s matches in the first round. Garcia asked the organization why the distribution of venues was chosen in this way. The answer he received was that it was a decision of the national team itself based on quota, climate and altitude criteria.
Obviously, I asked. It is a decision of the Mexican national team. They claim, on the one hand, that it suits them better to play at the Azteca because of sales, because it has more seats, and because of the climate or altitude. So they decided two and one
With the resignation of being excluded from the group stage to host Mexico’s games, Garcia asked the Federation to include Nuevo Leon in the agenda of friendly matches prior to the start of the 2026 World Cup.
I am demanding that, at least, before the World Cup, the national team comes to a friendly in Monterrey
Samuel Garcia denies “crumbs” for Monterrey in 2026 World Cup
After the World Cup draw, fans expressed that Nuevo Leon was left with “leftovers” and “crumbs”, in reference to the schedule of games that were assigned as the host city. For the governor, this is not the case. He said that Monterrey was considered to receive an attractive knockout round match.
Today we only know the first phase games. Unlike Jalisco, which does not have playoffs, Nuevo Leon does. One of the round of 16. That makes all the difference, because it is a more relevant game
Which 2026 World Cup matches will be played in Monterrey?
- 26/06/14 | Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania vs Tunisia (20:00) | Match 12, Group F
- 26/06/20 | Japan vs Tunisia (20:00) | Match 36, Group F
- 06/24/26 | South Africa vs South Korea (19:00) | Match 54, Group A
- 29/06/26 | 1st Group F vs 2nd Group C (19:00) | Match 75, Round of 32
Previously, Nuevo Leon will host matches of the repechage of the key B:
- 03/26/26 | Bolivia vs Suriname
- 31/03/26 | The winner will face Iraq
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