Mexico to face top European rival Belgium in showdown at Chicago’s Soldier Field

Mexico and Belgium will meet in a high-profile friendly at Soldier Field on March 31, providing both teams with a final competitive test before submitting their rosters for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The match, part of the 2026 MexTour, falls during FIFA’s March international window, allowing both national squads to travel with their first-choice lineups. For Mexico, it will be one of the few appearances in the United States before the World Cup begins across North America this summer.

Soldier Field last hosted Mexico in May 2024, when more than 52,000 fans attended a friendly against Bolivia. The venue has been a frequent stop for the national team over the past two decades and was also used during the 1994 World Cup.

Mexico, managed by Javier Aguirre, is expected to evaluate key contributors including Raúl Jiménez, Santiago Giménez and Hirving “Chucky” Lozano. Belgium—unbeaten in UEFA Qualifying Group J—brings some of the sport’s most established names, among them Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Romelu Lukaku.

Both sides have already secured World Cup qualification, increasing the stakes for what will be each team’s final match before coaches finalize their tournament selections.

Mexico enters the match ranked No. 15 in FIFA’s latest standings, while Belgium sits at No. 8. Belgium qualified for the 2026 World Cup by topping UEFA Qualifying Group J with a five-win, three-draw unbeaten run, scoring 17 goals and conceding just five. Mexico, meanwhile, has rotated heavily during its recent friendlies, posting mixed results but using the matches to evaluate depth at striker and midfield ahead of cuts.

Mexico leads Belgium historically

Historically, Mexico holds a slight edge in the series, leading Belgium with three wins, two draws and two losses across seven meetings. Belgium, however, has outscored Mexico 11–9 in those matchups. The teams have not faced each other since a memorable 3–3 draw in Brussels on November 10, 2017, a friendly that Belgium ultimately won 4–2 on penalties.