Mexico

Mexico are one of three host nations and will play the tournament's opening match on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the same iconic stadium where Maradona's Hand of God goal and his Goal of the Century both happened in 1986.

They've been knocked out in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups — a streak so consistent it has become almost a national joke, and the pressure to finally get past that stage on home soil is enormous.

Mexico's Golden Generation of players from the 2010s is largely gone now — the squad is younger and less experienced, which either means a fresh start or a very difficult group stage depending on how you read it.

The atmosphere at Mexican home games is unlike almost anything else in football — the crowd will be deafening, passionate and deeply invested in a way that gives the team a real advantage in the early games.

They're in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and Czech Republic — it's winnable, but not a certainty, and failing to progress as a host nation would be a national embarrassment on a grand scale.