With Iraq edging out Bolivia for the 48th and final spot, the 2026 World Cup is no longer just a tournament; it is a continent-hopping endurance test. 1 8 Iraq's Zaid Tahseen celebrates after the match in Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - March 31, 2026. In Group A, Mexico finds itself in what can best be described as a “this looks fine until it isn’t” group. 2 8 TTO GraphicsFor El Tri, the Azteca is less a fortress now and more a pressure cooker. Inverted full-backs, inverted wingers, perhaps even inverted goalkeepers if someone like Pep Guardiola gets bored enough.

Source: The Telegraph April 02, 2026 11:26 UTC