The annual MexTour will kick off its 2026 edition with a much-anticipated battle between the Mexican Men’s National Team (ranked 15th by FIFA) and one of the world’s top soccer squads, Belgium (No. 8), on Tuesday, March 31, at Chicago’s iconic Soldier Field (8 p.m. CST). Both teams are qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be staged across North America this coming summer.
The Federación Mexicana de Futbol (FMF) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) today announced the marquee event, which will provide fans a rare opportunity to see Mexico play in the U.S. before this summer’s World Cup, as the national team will play its Group Stage matches and potential Knockout Stage games in Mexico. The MexTour match in Chicago is being staged during the March international FIFA window, allowing both countries to bring their full-strength squads of global stars. The game will be crucial for both sides, as it will be the last opportunity for team managers to see their squads in action before finalizing their tournament rosters.
Tickets for the event will go on sale to the general public this Thursday, December 4, at 10 a.m. CST at SomosLocales.com. Additional MexTour 2026 matches will be announced at a later date.
MexTour returns to Soldier Field for the first time since May 31, 2024, when Mexico defeated Bolivia 1-0 in front of more than 52,000 fans. The historic stadium has hosted Mexico on numerous occasions, both for MexTour and Concacaf Gold Cup matches. The stadium, current home of Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire FC, also hosted matches during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
“I am thrilled to welcome fans to the City of Chicago for the Mexico vs. Belgium match,” said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Chicago has always opened its doors to people from every corner of the world, and we are excited to share our hospitality, our culture, and our love for the game with you. We look forward to hosting visitors and residents alike for an unforgettable match and invite everyone to enjoy all our great city has to offer.”
Led by manager Javier Aguirre, Mexico’s international standouts include Fulham striker Raul Jimenez, AC Milan goal scorer Santiago Gimenez, and San Diego FC midfielder Hirving “Chucky” Lozano.
Belgium, a semifinalist in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup by winning UEFA Qualifying Group J with an unbeaten record (five wins, three draws). Among its recognized global stars are Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne – widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – considered one of the best goalkeepers globally, and Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku – Belgium’s all-time top scorer.
All-time México vs. Belgium
- Total matches: 7
- Record: MEX leads the series with 3 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses
- Total goals scored: MEX 9 / BEL 11
- Last match: MEX 3 – BEL 3 (BEL won in PKs, 4-2) / November 10, 2017 / friendly / Brussels
- FIFA Rankings: Mexico 15; Belgium 8