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The Portugal national team, led by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, will face Mexico in a preparatory match for the 2026 World Cup, which will serve to reopen the Estadio Azteca next March, the Mexican Football Federation confirmed on Tuesday.
Mexican soccer officials had been working for months to secure the clash against the Portuguese side, but they needed to confirm that the team would qualify directly for the World Cup rather than through the playoffs, which will be played during that window.
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The match against Portugal will take place on Saturday, March 28, at the new Estadio Azteca, recently renamed Banorte, which had been closed since May of last year for renovations.
"It is a source of pride to be able to face Portugal, a very strong team with good players, for the reopening of the stadium," said the national teams' sporting director, Duilio Davino. "It will be an honor."
In addition to the match against the Portuguese, the Mexicans will face Belgium on March 31 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
These are the first two confirmed matches for the Mexican national team next year.
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"These types of matches are what Javier asked us for to measure the national team, and Belgium is a great team, it is a great benchmark," emphasized Davino.
Coach Javier Aguirre said after the last match of 2025, a 2-1 loss to Paraguay, that he would seek to hold a tour in January through Central America with players from the local league, but those plans have not yet been finalized.
With that defeat to the Paraguayans, Aguirre's team finished the year mired in a six-match winless streak.
Mexico has faced Portugal, sixth in the FIFA rankings, five times in its history, and its best results have been a pair of draws.
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The Mexican national team's last meeting against the Portuguese was in the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Against Belgium, 'El Tri' has a favorable record in the seven encounters they have had in the past, achieving three victories, two draws, and two defeats.
[Publicidad]