Underdogs chase World Cup berths in Mexico playoff tournamentThe BBVA Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico will host World Cup playoff matches this weekMEXICO CITY - Two of the final remaining tickets to the World Cup will be up for grabs when a high‑stakes playoff tournament kicks off in Mexico on Thursday, bringing together six teams from across the globe. The winner will advance to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same venue on March 31, with a World Cup ticket on the line. For DR Congo, meanwhile, the wait to secure their second World Cup finals appearance has been even longer. More than 70 people were killed in the violence, but Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and world governing body FIFA have insisted the unrest will have no bearing on the World Cup. Mexico, which is hosting 13 matches at the World Cup shared between Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City, has said more than 100,000 security personnel will be deployed to protect fans at the tournament.

Source: Bangkok Post March 25, 2026 05:52 UTC