Mexican Ambassador to Qatar H E José Guillermo Ordorica Robles. Picture: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Mexican Ambassador to Qatar H E José Guillermo Ordorica Robles has expressed confidence ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting Mexico’s historic role as the first nation to host the tournament three times and emphasising the importance of regional cooperation as the country prepares to co-host the global event alongside the United States and Canada.
In an exclusive interview with The Peninsula, the ambassador said Mexico is looking forward to welcoming fans from around the world when the tournament begins with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.
“The expectation is that Mexico is going to be the world champion, hopefully,” Ambassador Ordorica Robles said with a smile. “Of course, I have the best expectations regarding the development and the outcome of the tournament.”
Mexico will make history in 2026 as the first country to host the FIFA World Cup three times, having previously staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986. The ambassador added that the country’s long experience in organising major international events gives it confidence ahead of the expanded tournament.
“Mexico hosted the Olympics in 1968 and now becomes the only country in the world that has hosted the FIFA World Cup three times,” he said. “The expectations are that this is going to be the best ever World Cup and we are very proud to host it in Mexico.”
The 2026 edition will also mark the first time that three countries jointly host the tournament, creating a unique logistical and operational challenge across North America.
Explaining how Mexico is working closely with the United States and Canada, the ambassador emphasised the strength of regional cooperation.
“We are neighbors and friends. We have a very common partnership in different fields,” he said. “From this partnership, we have exchanged good practices. We have been in touch not just with FIFA, but also with the authorities of the three countries together regarding the organisation.”
Ambassador Ordorica Robles highlighted that Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has provided valuable lessons for the North American hosts.
“We are very proud of receiving the legacy of Qatar 2022, which was a great experience for the world,” he said. “Qatar displayed an enormous amount of experience and abilities to really have a great event.”
He praised Qatar’s hospitality, infrastructure development, security arrangements and fan experience, saying these aspects have become important reference points for the 2026 organisers.
“We learned from them not just the way in which they treated very nicely all the fans coming from around the world, but also all the effort they displayed for developing on-time infrastructure, hotels, avenues, security and great stadiums,” he said.
The ambassador noted that while Qatar hosted the tournament within the compact setting of Doha, the 2026 World Cup presents the opposite challenge, with matches spread across large cities in three vast countries.
Reflecting on the large number of Mexican fans who traveled to Qatar in 2022, Ambassador Ordorica Robles said the tournament further strengthened ties between Mexico, Qatar, the United States and Canada. “There were close to 80,000 fans connected to Mexico in Qatar,” he said.
He added that sport, football in particular continues to serve as an important bridge for cultural diplomacy between Mexico and Qatar.
“I guess that both cultures, Mexican and Qatari, have a lot to show to the world,” he said. “Through sports we can enhance and improve the quality of our exchanges and strengthen the bilateral dialogue in many fields.”
The ambassador also highlighted the significance of the Qatar-Mexico Year of Culture initiative, which coincides with Mexico’s preparations for the World Cup.
“This is a good opportunity for knowing each other better and for exchanging the best of Mexico and the best of Qatar,” he said. “Mexican culture is ready to be displayed before the world in this Year of Culture.”
Looking ahead to the tournament itself, the ambassador said he hopes to witness Mexico reach the final. “I am looking for the final because Mexico is going to be one of the two,” he said confidently and extending his best wishes to South Africa ahead of the opening match.
“We hope the world will follow this World Cup in the same spirit of fraternity and solidarity among nations.”
Ambassador Ordorica Robles said made special mention of two Mexican football stars expected to draw global attention during the tournament, teenage sensation Gilberto Mora and veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Gilberto Mora is set to become the youngest player at the FIFA World Cup 2026 at just 17 years and 240 days old on the opening day of the tournament, representing a new generation of Mexican talent.
Meanwhile, legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is expected to make history by appearing in his sixth FIFA World Cup squad, becoming one of the few players ever to achieve the feat.
Delivering a final message to football supporters worldwide, Ambassador Ordorica Robles said: “Enjoy, be happy, and cheer Mexico.”
