Mexico could open the World Cup against Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah
The Norwegian national team, with Erling Haaland, or the Egyptian national team, with Mohamed Salah, could face Mexico in the opening match of the next World Cup in 2026
Erling Haaland, star of the Norwegian national team and Manchester City, and Mohamed Salah, star of Liverpool and leader of the Egyptian national team, could be Mexico's opponent in the opening match of the next World Cup in 2026, according to speculation following the release of details about the upcoming World Cup draw.
FIFA announced that Mexico was placed in Pot 1 along with: Canada, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. This means they would face the teams in Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, and South Africa.
The opening match could be against one of these internationally renowned teams, except for Panama, as they are a member of the same confederation, CONCACAF. However, besides Norway and Egypt, there are also many possibilities of facing Paraguay, against whom they recently lost in San Antonio, Texas, in a friendly match.
They could also face Scotland, who eliminated Denmark, as well as Qatar, Algeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Ivory Coast, and Saudi Arabia, all of which the Mexican national team has faced in previous World Cups, such as...
Tunisia in Argentina 1978, South Africa in the 2010 edition, and Saudi Arabia in Qatar 2022.
The teams in Pot 3 were also placed there based on their FIFA ranking, with Norway ranked 29th, Panama (30th), Egypt (34th), Algeria (35th), Scotland (36th), Paraguay (39th), Tunisia (40th), Ivory Coast (42nd), Uzbekistan (50th), and Qatar (51st).
The pots for the December 5th draw
On the eve of the World Cup drawn on December 5th, FIFA announced the composition of the four pots that will determine the groups and schedule for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11th with the opening match at Estadio Azteca, hosted by Mexico.
The pots are as follows:
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, United States, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay,Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, and Australia.
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, South Africa, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Ivory Coast, and Uzbekistan.
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, winners of European playoffs A, B, C, and D, and winners of intercontinental playoffs 1 and 2.