2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City: How to Get Tickets for the Sold-Out Matches
If you missed your chance to buy tickets for the World Cup's Mexico City matches, fret not — there are still a few ways to get in before the action kicks off at Estadio Azteca
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens at Estadio Azteca on June 11th with Mexico vs. South Africa — the tournament's opening match. This is the most historically significant World Cup venue on the planet. Azteca previously hosted the 1970 and 1986 Finals. Demand has been staggering. The opening match is commanding some of the highest resale prices outside of the tournament Final itself. FIFA's official sales cleared out fast. The Last-Minute Sales window that opened April 1st is moving inventory on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantee of availability. Even the later group-stage fixtures at Azteca are trading well above face value. But here's the good news: Mexico City hosts five matches total, including two involving El Tri and two knockout-round games. The non-Mexico group-stage fixtures carry lower resale premiums. Inventory does shift on the secondary market as the tournament approaches. You're not out of options — but you need to move strategically and set realistic price expectations.
Here's your complete guide to getting World Cup tickets in Mexico City.
The Mexico City Matches
Estadio Azteca (officially Estadio Banorte through a naming-rights deal) will host five matches: three group-stage games, one Round of 32, and one Round of 16. Here's the full schedule:
Group Stage
Thursday, June 11th — Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A, Tournament Opening Match)
StubHub · Ticketmaster
Wednesday, June 17th — Uzbekistan vs. Colombia (Group K)
StubHub · Ticketmaster
Wednesday, June 24th — Czechia vs. Mexico (Group A)
StubHub · Ticketmaster
Knockout Stage
Tuesday, June 30th — Round of 32
StubHub · Ticketmaster
Sunday, July 5th — Round of 16
StubHub · Ticketmaster
Estadio Azteca is located in the Coyoacán borough of southern Mexico City. The venue is accessible via Metro Line 2 (Taxqueña station) followed by a short taxi or walk, or via the Tren Ligero light rail. If you're taking rideshare, budget extra time — traffic around the stadium on match days is notoriously dense. CDMX traffic in general can add significant time to any route. The stadium sits at approximately 7,200 feet elevation, which can affect visitors not accustomed to altitude. Stay hydrated and arrive early. FIFA's enhanced security screening and bag restrictions apply at all Mexico venues. One critical logistical note for international travelers: Mexico City is six hours behind UTC. Confirm kickoff times in local time before planning your day.
Where Can You Still Get Tickets?
StubHub — StubHub has listings for all five Mexico City matches. The broadest inventory sits on the Uzbekistan vs. Colombia match (June 17th). The opening match (June 11th) has the narrowest supply. All purchases are backed by StubHub's FanProtect guarantee, which covers purchases at 120% if the seller fails to deliver valid tickets. Important note: FIFA imposes a face-value resale cap on tickets for matches hosted in Mexico. This means sellers on FIFA's Resale Marketplace cannot charge above the original price. This restriction does not apply to third-party platforms like StubHub, where market pricing is in effect.
Ticketmaster Verified Resale — Ticketmaster's resale marketplace carries authenticated World Cup inventory for Mexico City dates. Inventory updates regularly. The buyer guarantee applies to all purchases.
Fans can also look for tickets via SeatGeek, where you can use promo code SEATGEEK10 to save $10 off your first order of over $150.
FIFA Resale/Exchange Marketplace — This is the only resale channel officially endorsed by FIFA, accessible at FIFA.com/tickets. For Mexico City matches specifically, this platform is particularly valuable because FIFA's face-value resale cap applies. You cannot be charged above the original ticket price on FIFA's marketplace. If you can find inventory here for the opening match or the Czechia vs. Mexico game, you'll pay face value — a significant savings over third-party resale platforms.
reddit / fan communities — reddit's r/LigaMX and r/worldcup have active ticket exchange threads. Face-value trades from fans whose plans changed do appear, though less frequently for Mexico City dates than for some US host cities. No formal buyer protection exists for peer-to-peer trades.
What Are Tickets Going For?
Mexico City's pricing is driven by two forces: the tournament-opening match on June 11th (which carries a prestige premium) and the intense domestic demand for any match involving El Tri. The non-Mexico group-stage fixture is notably cheaper. Here's the breakdown:
Upper-level seats, Uzbekistan vs. Colombia (June 17th): $170–$500 per ticket. This is the most affordable match at Azteca by a wide margin. The matchup profile doesn't carry the same draw as the Mexico fixtures or the opening ceremony.
Upper-level seats, Mexico matches: $800–$2,000 per ticket. Both Mexico vs. South Africa (June 11th) and Czechia vs. Mexico (June 24th) carry substantial premiums. The opening match is at the high end of this range.
Mid-level seats, opening match: $2,200–$4,000 per ticket. Face-value Category 3 seats that originally sold for around $370–$895 are now listed at $2,200+ on secondary platforms.
Lower bowl and premium seating, opening match: $4,000–$8,000+ per ticket. Category 1 seats near midfield for the opening ceremony and first match of the tournament command extreme premiums.
Knockout rounds (Round of 32 and Round of 16): $400–$2,500 per ticket currently. Pricing will shift once the bracket is determined and fans know which teams are playing at Azteca.
Service fees on StubHub and Ticketmaster typically add 20–40% to listed prices. Factor that into your budget. And remember: if you can find inventory on FIFA's Resale Marketplace for Mexico City matches, the face-value cap applies — making it the best deal available if stock is there.
Should You Consider a Nearby City Instead?
Guadalajara's Estadio Akron is roughly 350 miles northwest of Mexico City — about a one-hour flight or 5.5-hour drive — and hosts four group-stage matches, including Mexico vs. South Korea (June 18th). If you specifically want to see Mexico play, the June 18th match in Guadalajara may carry a lower resale premium than either Mexico City date, since Azteca's opening-match prestige and the home-stadium advantage inflate CDMX pricing. Monterrey's Estadio BBVA is about 575 miles north and hosts four matches with secondary-market prices that have consistently tracked below both Mexico City and Guadalajara. The face-value resale cap on FIFA's marketplace applies to all three Mexican host cities, so checking that platform for Guadalajara or Monterrey inventory is especially worthwhile if you're looking to save money.
Strategic Tips for Buying
- Check StubHub, Ticketmaster Verified Resale, and FIFA's Resale Marketplace multiple times each day. Inventory shifts constantly. For Mexico City matches specifically, the FIFA Resale Marketplace is your best shot at face-value pricing thanks to the Mexico resale cap.
- Compare prices across all five Mexico City match dates before committing. The Uzbekistan vs. Colombia fixture on June 17th trades at a fraction of the opening-match price. If your goal is to experience the World Cup at Estadio Azteca rather than a specific matchup, that midweek date is the most accessible entry point.
- Set up price alerts on StubHub for specific Estadio Azteca events. The platform will notify you when prices drop below a threshold you set. This is particularly useful for the knockout rounds, where pricing can swing dramatically once the bracket is set.
- Move quickly when you find a price that fits your budget. Over-shopping in search of a marginally better deal can result in losing a listing entirely. Azteca hosts only five matches, so total inventory is smaller than higher-volume venues. Good seats move fast.
- Stick to platforms with formal buyer-guarantee programs. StubHub FanProtect and Ticketmaster Verified Resale both authenticate inventory. FIFA's Resale/Exchange Marketplace is the safest route and, for Mexico matches, offers the added benefit of the face-value cap. If exploring peer-to-peer trades on reddit's r/LigaMX or r/worldcup, only deal with accounts that have an established community history, never pay through Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle, and treat any listing priced dramatically below market rate as a red flag. World Cup ticket scams are especially prevalent for high-profile matches like the tournament opener — do not let the urgency of the moment override basic precautions.
About the Tournament
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, expanded from the 32-team format used since 1998. It is also the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — with 16 host cities spread across all three countries. Estadio Azteca's selection as the opening-match venue is a nod to the stadium's unmatched World Cup history: it is the only venue in the world to have hosted two FIFA World Cup Finals (1970 and 1986) and now adds a third tournament to its résumé. The tournament runs from June 11th through July 19th, with the Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
