Can Mexico lift the World Cup in 2026? One former winner thinks so

With Mexico, the United States and Canada set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, all three nations have been given automatic berths at the tournament, bypassing the usual qualification process.

Yet despite their guaranteed spots, none of the host countries are currently seen as frontrunners to lift the trophy. However, one of Spain’s most iconic soccer stars believes Mexico could defy expectations.

David Villa, Spain’s all-time leading scorer and a key figure in their 2010 World Cup triumph, recently visited Mexico and shared his admiration for El Tri. In his view, Mexico has all the ingredients to be considered a legitimate contender.

“Always one of the favorites”

“Because of their history, their love for the game, the quality of their players, their performances, and the intense media pressure they face, I think Mexico is always one of the favorites,” Villa said.

Villa praised Mexico’s trademark fighting spirit, which has been a hallmark of their performances in international tournaments. He also highlighted the country’s deep-rooted passion for soccer as a key factor in their potential success.

“Maybe this will be the year”

“If I’m not mistaken, only eight countries have ever won the World Cup,” Villa said. 2It’s incredibly difficult to win, but Mexico has consistently shown grit, talent, and passion in every tournament. Who knows - maybe this will be the year. Not long ago, we were saying the same thing about Spain… and look at what happened.”

Spain captured their first and only World Cup title in South Africa 15 years ago, while Mexico exited that tournament in the round of 16.