With the conclusion of the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup 2026, fans pay tribute to the memory, emotion, and organizational grandeur of the major sporting events where the editions in Mexico take the win. In an exhaustive analysis developed by the American medium The New York Times to classify the best tournaments in history, our country positioned itself as the undisputed capital of football and places its three championships within the coveted Top 10 of all time.
Why does Mexico stand out in the ranking?
The answer lies in Mexico's ability to host three of the best World Cups in history. Mexico stands out as the only nation on the planet that has served as host in three occasions (1970, 1986 and 2026), achieving in each of them an indelible mark on the collective imagination of the king sport.
Mexico 1970: the reign of “Futbol Arte” and the consecration of Pelé
Also occupying a place of honor among the ten best events in history is Mexico 1970, a tournament that revolutionized the dissemination of football by being the first World Cup broadcast in color at a global level. Located in the top places of the world ranking, the 1970 tournament is remembered as the purest example of “futbol arte”, led by the mythical Brazilian team of Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson and Rivelino.
Mexico 1986: the pinnacle of football history
At the top of the international ranking is Mexico 1986, classified as the best World Cup ever played. Organized in emergency after Colombia's withdrawal and overcoming the devastating effects of the 1985 earthquake, the 1986 tournament combined social drama, mystical stadium by stadium, and the most dazzling individual performance of all time: the absolute consecration of Diego Armando Maradona.
North America 2026: the multiseat fiesta that enters the Top 10
Completing the triple gold for the national territory, the recently celebrated World Cup 2026 -organized jointly between Mexico, the United States and Canada- managed to enter the select group of the top 10 best World Cups in history. This edition marked a milestone without precedents by being the first to host 48 national teams and being played over 104 matches.
The international press highlighted the prominence of the Mexican venues (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey), where the passion of the fans, the remodeled infrastructure of the Estadio Azteca and the festive atmosphere created a unique scenario for football.
Currently, Mexico is in first place in the World Cup 2026 classification with 9 points, 3 wins and 0 losses in 3 games, maintaining a 5-point lead over South Africa. In its last game, Mexico faced England and suffered a 2-3 defeat. In its last series of games, Mexico has achieved 4 wins and 1 loss (LWWWW).
