Mexico Group A Odds: How Far Can El Tri Go in World Cup?

Match preview and odds analysis

Mexico will enter the World Cup in fine form after winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Nations League in 2025. El Tri then drew 0-0 with Portugal and 1-1 with Belgium in a pair of friendlies in March. Those results were impressive, as Belgium and Portugal both comfortably beat the USA during the same international break.

However, El Tri rarely make it past the Round of 16 at the World Cup, and that historical ceiling is reflected in the prediction markets. They’re trading at just 1.1% on Kalshi and 1.2% Polymarket. First, they will need to navigate a tricky group stage. Mexico is up against South Africa, South Korea, and Czechia. On a brighter note, all three games will be played on home soil, as Mexico is co-hosting the World Cup. The players will benefit from strong home support, and they’ll be accustomed to the summer temperatures, which should give them an advantage.

El Tri are currently 15th in the FIFA world rankings, and that’s a solid reflection of the quality within their squad. They look well-equipped to reach the Round of 16, but they could struggle against quality teams like England, Spain, France, Argentina, and Brazil. Mexico has a strong starting XI, featuring the likes of Edson Álvarez and César Montes, but they’ve also suffered some major injury blows. Midfielder Marcel Ruiz, a roster lock for Mexico, will miss the tournament with a torn ACL, and Club América goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón will also miss out.

Javier Aguirre is currently in his third stint as manager, having previously led Mexico at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups, guiding them to the Round of 16 both times. He also won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2025.

Winning the World Cup is certainly not beyond the realms of possibility, but the odds and probability reflect this team’s outsider status. Backing them to reach the Round of 16 could be a safer option. They were eliminated in the Round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups from 1994 to 2018, although they crashed out at the group stage in 2022.

Group draw and tournament path: Can El Tri break the Round 16 curse?

Mexico qualified automatically for the World Cup as one of the three co-hosts. El Tri landed in Group A, alongside South Korea, South Africa, and Czechia. The top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers advance to a Round of 32.

• Mexico vs South Africa (June 11, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City): Mexico has the honor of playing the very first match of the 2026 World Cup. South Africa looks like the weakest team in Group A, which is reflected in its market price (5.5% to win the group on Kalshi). A sold-out Azteca crowd should give El Tri an enormous lift, and anything less than three points here would be a disappointment. Kalshi has 68% on Mexico winning that game.
• Mexico vs South Korea (June 18, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara): South Korea is a tougher assignment. The Koreans have reached the Round of 16 twice since 2010 and will bring quality and tactical discipline. Mexico moves to Guadalajara for this one, but they’ll still have strong home support. This could be the game that decides whether El Tri top the group or finish second. El Tri are trading at 77% on Kalshi to win this match.
• Mexico vs Czechia (June 24, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City): Mexico returns to Estadio Azteca for the group stage closer. El Tri will face Czechia, who beat Denmark on penalties to secure a place at the World Cup in March. If Mexico has already secured qualification with results in the first two games, this could become a dead rubber — but topping the group gives El Tri a significantly easier Round of 32 draw.

If Mexico wins Group A, it will face a third-place team from Group C, E, F, H, or I in the Round of 32. El Tri would likely be favored to win that game. If they get the job done, their reward will be a Round of 16 clash in Mexico City on July 5. Their most likely opponent would be England. They would be heavy underdogs against a stacked England team, so that could be the end of the road for Mexico. If they manage to beat England, El Tri could then face Brazil in a quarterfinal clash in Miami. They would then need to beat the world’s best teams in the final stages of the tournament.

If Mexico finishes second in Group A, it will head to Inglewood to take on the runner-up from Group B in the Round of 32. That could be Canada, Switzerland, or potentially Italy, which is a tougher assignment. For that reason, Mexico will be focused on winning Group A.

For live pricing on all World Cup contenders, see our 2026 World Cup odds tracker.

Key players to watch: Álvarez should recover from injury before the World Cup

Mexico has a deep squad featuring players from Liga MX, Major League Soccer, and several big European leagues. Here’s who we are watching:

• Edson Álvarez: Mexico’s captain is a strong holding midfielder currently on loan at Fenerbahçe from West Ham, renowned for his tenacious tackling and his high work rate. Álvarez provides an effective screen for Mexico’s defense, and he’s also reliable in possession. He had successful surgery on his injured ankle in February, but his minutes will need to be managed when he returns. Mexico national team president Duilio Davino expects him to recover in time for the World Cup, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be in peak physical condition.
• Raúl Jiménez: The veteran striker has scored eight goals in 29 games for Fulham in the Premier League this season. He’s a strong finisher, and his movement and aerial ability will be crucial for Mexico at the World Cup. Jiménez has scored 44 goals in 123 games for his country.
• Santiago Giménez: Giménez has the potential to emerge as Mexico’s star player, but injuries have stalled his progress over the past year. He’s only scored once in 11 appearances for AC Milan this season. Giménez returned to action on March 21, making his first appearance after a five-month absence, and he should be able to force his way into Mexico’s World Cup squad, but Jiménez is likely to start in attack.
• César Montes: Mexico’s vice-captain will form the backbone of El Tri’s defense at this tournament. He’s tall, physically imposing, and dangerous at set pieces.
• Orbelín Pineda: Most of Mexico’s midfielders are tough, energetic ball-winners, but the AEK Athens playmaker stands out by offering a touch of pizzazz. He’s arguably Mexico’s most creative player, and he will be key to unlocking tight defenses in the group stage.

Related markets for Mexico

Mexico’s outright winner contract settles at $1 if they lift the trophy, or resolves to “no” immediately upon elimination. Polymarket uses FIFA and ESPN as its resolution source; Kalshi uses FIFA and credible secondary reporting. Final settlement date: July 20, 2026.

There are some interesting markets available on Mexico’s 2026 World Cup campaign:

• To win Group A: Mexico is the current favorite to win Group A, with a 48% chance of success, according to Kalshi. Czechia is the second favorite, ahead of South Korea.
• To qualify for the knockout stage: El Tri have an 84% chance of making the Round of 32, according to Kalshi traders. They need to secure a top-two finish in Group A, or they must be one of the eight best third-place teams.
• To reach a certain stage: Prediction markets let you bet on Mexico to make the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, or the final. Backing El Tri to reach the Round of 16 could be popular, as that’s normally their ceiling.
• World Cup game relocated away from Mexico? Polymarket launched this contract on February 22 after cartel violence erupted following the killing of CJNG leader “El Mencho” near Guadalajara. Traders are pricing in an 96% chance that no Mexico-hosted matches will be relocated abroad, with $116K in volume so far. The market resolves “Yes” if FIFA announces any relocation by June 10. Despite widespread social media speculation, the strong “No” consensus aligns with the fact that FIFA has not announced any schedule changes and Mexican authorities say security planning remains on track.
• World Cup prop markets: Kalshi also offers a range of prediction-market-exclusive props that traditional sportsbooks don’t carry. These include whether Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will play in the tournament, who will sing the official World Cup song, whether Donald Trump will attend the final, and whether any US-scheduled games will be relocated abroad. These novelty contracts are a good example of how prediction markets offer a wider range of World Cup markets than sportsbooks.

Where to bet on Mexico at the World Cup

Mexico’s World Cup markets are available on Kalshi, Polymarket, and through event contracts on DraftKings, FanDuel, and Fanatics (routed through the CME, though these don’t carry the same volume or market depth as Kalshi or Polymarket). Kalshi has the widest selection — outright winner, Group A winner, knockout stage qualification, round-by-round advancement, and Golden Boot. Polymarket offers the outright winner, Group A winner, and winning continent contracts. All platforms are expected to expand their offerings closer to the tournament.

One advantage prediction markets have over traditional sportsbooks: they’re accessible in all 50 states. Online sports betting is still restricted to roughly half the country, which means fans in states like Texas, California, and Florida — three of the largest El Tri fanbases in the U.S. — can trade on Kalshi or Polymarket but can’t place a legal sports bet. For the millions of El Tri supporters across the country, prediction markets may be the only legal way to back Mexico this summer.

Before placing your first trade, it’s worth comparing prediction market fees across platforms — trading costs vary significantly between Kalshi, Polymarket, and the CME-routed sportsbook contracts. Fans in California and Texas can check our state-specific guides for a full breakdown of which platforms are available where they live. See the latest sign-up offers for new accounts.