Mexico is teetering on the verge of making history.It will become the first country in the world to have hosted 3 world cups on their soil – once World Cup 2026 is done and dusted. Other countries have hosted a brace of World Cups – Italy (1934.1990),France (1938,1998) and Brazil(1950,2014) .None have managed three.
The 1970 Mexico World Cup was really special because it featured Pele in his prime and possibly the best team that Brazil ever fielded. Led by Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, Gérson, Rivelino, and captain Carlos Alberto, the team won all six games in Mexico to win their third World Cup. They defeated Italy 4-1 in the final and got to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy for keeps (which they then also managed to lose and never find again)
The 1986 Mexico World Cup was similarly really special because it featured another genius – Maradona – in his prime. It was that World Cup when he scored that goal – yeah the hand of god one.
So lets see what 2026 has in score for us. Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi are the Maradona and Pele like geniuses of our time. Will they give us some memories for the ages ? Will Ronaldo take Portugal to glory ? Will Messi do something more Messianic than usual ????
Mexico is on a hat trick for giving us one more really special World Cup.