Dark Horse Rising - Mexico are Qualified, Unbeaten and Unscored Against - Are They Under the Radar?

Are Mexico Going Under The Radar?

Mexico came into the 2026 World Cup as one of the dark horses, being one of the co-hosts obviously comes with the boost of added support and playing in a familiar environment but are we underestimating just how good they're playing?

They managed to top the group by getting all 9 available points and with a whopping +6 goal difference.

But what's really interesting is their results so far compared to the expectations we had of them coming into the tournament and how well other teams are playing.

Over 800,000 people gathered at the Angel de la Independencia in Mexico City to celebrate Mexico’s third win at the World Cup.

Words can’t describe this feeling. 🇲🇽🤯 pic.twitter.com/vYihsvEwXR

— Ultras Clips (@ultras_clips) June 25, 2026

Tough Group

So not to brag but I did put Mexico down as one of the tournaments dark horses, proof here, but I have to admit looking at the group they're in I did not anticipate the results to be quite so solid.

Joining them in their group was South Korea, Czechia and 2010 hosts South Africa, on paper some other groups have bigger names such as Group I but none are quite as closely matched with all 4 sides as Group A.

After their 3-0 victory over Czechia Mexico have shot up to #10 in the FIFA World Rankings with their opponents being pretty close by, South Korea in #28, Czechia in #48 and South Africa in #54.

The FINAL standings of Group A in the World Cup.

Mexico go 3/3 and COMFORTABLY finish 1st.

After a horrible opening game, South Africa make an incredible comeback and finish 2nd.

South Korea finish 3rd, they now have a 95% chance of reaching the knockouts with their -1 goal… pic.twitter.com/f7b21xP3W1

— george (@StokeyyG2) June 25, 2026

Emphatic Qualification

Now Mexico qualifying for the Round of 32 is hardly a shock but it's the manner in which they've done it that has stunned us.

They manged an opening 2-0 win in a thriller to open the tournament against South Africa in a replay of the 2010 opener, finally getting their revenge.

In their second game they managed a narrow 1-0 victory over South Korea when the stats would suggest they should have been beaten.

And finally to everyone's shock they absolutely hammered a Czechia side that many had higher expectations for this World Cup with a decisive 3-0 last night.

But to run the number quickly this means that in one of the toughest groups in the whole of the tournament that realistically could've been won by anyone and not stunned fans, Mexico have managed to go through it flawlessly and all whilst not conceding a single goal.

As it stands, these are the matchups we would see in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 👀

Which ones would you like to see the most? pic.twitter.com/jrVZeOCxGr

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 25, 2026

So Are We Letting Them Go Under The Radar?

In short yes. Mexico as a host nation were always bound to have a slight advantage, the power of the Azteca stadium filled with 80,000 Mexican fans was always going to be a boost whenever they got to play there but what they have achieved is extraordinary.

As things stand they're going to end up with one of the best group stage performances in the entire tournament and dependent.

Their Round of 32 game currently looks like it will be against Scotland again at the iconic Azteca which if they win will set up yet another knockout game at the Azteca.

Things are falling incredibly favourably for a shock run for Mexico and it's all down to their own quality so far this tournament.

Guillermo Ochoa.

40 years old.

6 World Cups.

153 caps for Mexico.

“My first game, Azteca. My last game, Azteca. It’s been a beautiful final chapter of my career. Thank you, everyone”. pic.twitter.com/LutKQ2HjNs

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) June 25, 2026