Following arguably Mexico’s best World Cup finish since 1986, rumors have circulated online about El Tri potentially moving from its throne in CONCACAF to the much tougher South American confederation known as CONMEBOL. With FIFA’s presidential election coming up on March 18, 2027, rumors have swirled around current FIFA president Gianni Infantino granting the Mexican Football Federation’s ambition to switch over to CONMEBOL and host Club World Cup tournaments in exchange for its vote.

Historically, Mexico has dominated in CONCACAF, with its biggest rival being the United States in World Cup qualifiers, Gold Cup matchups and even friendlies. The occasional scare from countries like Costa Rica, Honduras and most recently, Canada, has threatened Mexico’s throne at the top. But it never fell lower than the third-best team in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

The reality of a move to CONMEBOL A move to CONMEBOL would open up more opportunities for Liga MX teams to compete in the Copa Libertadores, as Cruz Azul did in 2012. (Carlos Vargas/Cuartoscuro)

That narrative changes if Mexico switches over to CONMEBOL, where it would have to win or tie enough games against nations like Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay to even think about qualifying for future World Cups.

It’s also worth noting that Liga MX teams would be eligible to play in the Copa Libertadores, which is the South American version of Europe’s Champions League, creating opportunities for Mexican pro teams to compete against the best of Latin America every season.

Even though it may be a daunting task for some fans, Mexico’s stellar performance in the 2026 World Cup gives lifelong fans like myself hope. El Tri won all of its group-stage games for the first time without conceding a single goal. Then, it won a knockout-phase game for the first time in 40 years. Then, it took eventual third-place finisher England down to the wire in a 3-2 loss at the historic Estadio Azteca in the round of 16.

Mexico’s hosting of World Cup wins praise all around

A great mix of emerging talent like Julián Quiñones and young players like Gilberto Mora gives fans reason to be excited for the future if Mexico actually switches over to CONMEBOL.

New and greater challenges

There’s an old saying in sports: If you want to be the best, you need to beat the best. And if Mexico ever hopes to build off its momentum from the last World Cup, playing against quality footballing nations will benefit the squad.

Brazil has won the World Cup five times and has plenty of top players in Europe, including Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Alisson Becker. Argentina has Lionel Messi and back-to-back World Cup finishes where it either won or finished runner-up. Colombia and Uruguay are also teams not to be taken lightly. But the good news is this will force players like Brian Gutierrez, Gilberto Mora, Mateo Chavez and Raul “Tala” Rangel to level up their games. All of them had their moments in the last World Cup, and that momentum needs to continue.

A move to CONMEBOL could prove beneficial for talented young Mexican players like Gilberto Mora. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Being part of CONMEBOL also means playing in the Copa America, a tournament that will be Mexico’s next big test, whether it makes the switch or is simply invited to compete in 2028. A solid finish would strengthen Mexico’s position as an improving footballing nation capable of making deep runs among the elite.

Revival of old-school rivalries

Despite Brazil’s accolades on the global stage, Mexico has proven to be a worthy opponent over the years. In the 1999 Confederations Cup final, Mexico prevailed over Brazil 4-3 in front of 110,000 fans in Estadio Azteca. Mexico also upset Brazil in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, beating a prime Brazilian squad 2-1 that included players like Neymar, Thiago Silva and Marcelo.

Mexico and Colombia also go way back, having played against each other in the 2001 Copa America final. The Mexican national team also has Colombian influence via Julián Quiñones, a Colombian-Mexican striker who was Mexico’s leading goalscorer in the last World Cup with four goals in five matches. It’s also worth noting Colombia was set to be the original host of the 1986 World Cup, but withdrew due to overwhelming stadium demands from FIFA — leading Mexico to step in its place, hosting what is now considered one of the greatest World Cups of all time.

El Tri wins its first knockout game in 40 years, fueling Mexico with unlimited optimism

The parallels between Mexico and many South American countries are endless, which can strengthen rivalries if El Tri ends up switching over to CONMEBOL. Looking at the drama leading up to Mexico’s 2-0 win over Ecuador in the round of 32, new rivalries may also be in the works.

Great economic opportunities

Though watching Mexico face off against the U.S. is always a treat, there isn’t much else for Mexican fans to look forward to between World Cups. It’s no secret that the Mexican Football Federation loves hosting friendlies with its American neighbors in cities like Los Angeles and Houston due to economic opportunities, but other nations within CONCACAF don’t present the same level of excitement.

Playing in CONMEBOL will change that and add more variety to El Tri’s calendar. Regular matches against Brazil, Argentina and Colombia will also attract South American fans — millions of people ready to pay top dollar to watch their respective national teams.

Other than its highly anticipated games against the U.S., Mexico has no great rivalries in CONCACAF, as it would in CONMEBOL against teams from World Cup-winning nations like Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. (Shutterstock/Cuartoscuro)

Not only can Mexico continue to play against the United States in friendlies, but it can also strategically host games in American cities with large Brazilian, Argentinian and other South American populations.

Would you rather see Mexico vs. a tiny island in a Gold Cup group-stage match or against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier? Regular matchups against steep competition will not only make Mexican players better, but will also create buzz and excitement that won’t fade after a World Cup ends.

Do you think Mexico can thrive in CONMEBOL?

Like most rumors, the idea of Mexico switching over to CONMEBOL probably won’t materialize unless real action takes place. But if you want a taste of how well Mexico’s current national team could stack up against South American competition, three of its next four games are against Colombia, Peru and Chile.

So, do you think Mexico is good enough to compete against South America’s best? Let us know in the comments below.

Ian Ostroff is an indie author, journalist and copywriter from Montreal, Canada. You can find his work in various outlets, including Map Happy and The Suburban. When he’s not writing, you can find Ian at the gym, a café or anywhere within Mexico visiting family and friends.

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