Group A offers the highest density of football passion and the best cultural value in the tournament—if you manage the altitude.
The group is split into two distinct zones: the "Central Highlands" (Mexico City, Guadalajara) and the "Northern Frontier" (Monterrey).
Mexico City 🚄 Guadalajara ✈️ Monterrey
Use luxury executive buses between CDMX and Guadalajara. It's more comfortable than flying. Then, fly to Monterrey to avoid the long desert drive.
Group A is spread across Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and one Atlanta fixture. Times below are local to the match city.
| Date | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Thu, 11 Jun 2026 | Mexico vs South Africa |
| Thu, 11 Jun 2026 | Korea Republic vs UEFA Play-off D |
| Thu, 18 Jun 2026 | UEFA Play-off D vs South Africa |
| Thu, 18 Jun 2026 | Mexico vs Korea Republic |
| Wed, 24 Jun 2026 | UEFA Play-off D vs Mexico |
| Wed, 24 Jun 2026 | South Africa vs Korea Republic |
Group A is uniquely served by Mexico's world-class luxury bus network, which rival's Europe's best trains, and a competitive domestic flight market.
Do not fly between Mexico City and Guadalajara. The luxury bus terminals are easier to navigate than airports and the seats are fully flat.
Luxury executive class. Fully reclining seats, personal screens, and snacks.
$40-60 USDFull-service carrier. Best for CDMX to Monterrey connections.
$80-150 USDLow-cost carrier. Great for budget hops if you travel light.
$30-70 USDMonterrey is a long haul from the central cities. Driving takes 10+ hours through desert regions. Flying is the only viable strategy for fans.
| Route | Est. Price |
|---|---|
| Mexico City (MEX) → Monterrey (MTY) | $80 - $160 |
| Mexico City (MEX) → Guadalajara (GDL) | $45 - $65 |
| Guadalajara (GDL) → Monterrey (MTY) | $70 - $130 |
Flight availability between major hubs will be extremely tight during the group stage.
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CDMX is huge. Guadalajara is traditional. Monterrey is modern and spread out. Location choice is the difference between a 20-minute Uber and 2 hours in traffic.
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Mexico offers incredible value compared to US/Canada. Estimates are per person for a 12-day trip covering 3 group matches.
Hostels, street tacos, Metro/Bus transit, grocery shopping, Cat 3 tickets.
Boutique hotels, Uber Comfort, casual dining, luxury buses, Cat 2 tickets.
5-star hotels (Polanco/San Pedro), private drivers, fine dining (Pujol), Cat 1 tickets.
Eat Street Food: Mexico has a world-class street food culture. A $5 lunch at a busy taco stand is often better than a $50 restaurant meal.
Luxury Buses: Avoid the stress of airports for CDMX-GDL. ETN buses are cheaper than flights and include meals and luxury seating.
Didi vs Uber: Didi is often 20% cheaper than Uber in Mexico and has similar safety features. Download both to compare prices.
Mexico City is at 2,240m (7,350ft). You will get tired faster. Drink twice as much water as usual and avoid heavy alcohol for the first 48 hours.
If a local says a salsa is "no pica" (not spicy), it is likely still spicy for you. Green is usually milder than red, but not always. Test a drop first.
Never hail a taxi on the street in Mexico City. Use Uber or Didi. It's safer, tracked via GPS, and prevents price haggling.
Estadio Azteca has strict bag rules. Often, no bags at all are allowed, including small purses. Check the latest FIFA regulations before heading to the match.
From the historic heart of CDMX to the modern peaks of Monterrey, Group A is the tournament's soul. Start planning your logistics now.