Mexico v Poland preview: Lewandowski looks to net first World Cup goal
The venue is made from 974 recycled shipping containers and will be used to host matches throughout the tournament before being dismantled and transported to be rebuilt in Maldonado, Uruguay to host games for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, providing the country's joint bid proves successful.
Making their eighth consecutive World Cup finals appearance and 17th overall, Mexico will hope to mark this special occasion with a win and secure qualification out of the group stage for an eighth successive time. Yet they do often struggle once in the latter stages, a point captured by the fact no side has played more World Cup games (57) without reaching a final, while no other country has lost more fixtures at the tournament (27)!
The Tricolour are, however, unbeaten in their last six World Cup group stage openers (W5, D1), so confidence in the camp should be high of progression from Group C. That will almost be guaranteed if they can channel the form of their World Cup qualification campaign, where they only lost two of their 14 matches (W8, D4) while keeping the most clean sheets (eight) of all CONCACAF teams.
Although they lack the World Cup credentials of their opposition, an ever-improving Poland will be looking to make the most of their ninth appearance at the World Cup. The bar is set pretty low for Czesław Michniewicz’s men to make a positive impression as Poland have failed to make it past the group stages in their last three attempts, losing six of those nine games (W3).
The Eagles don’t have a great track record of getting off to a positive start either, having failed to win any of their last six World Cup openers (D3, L3). They may look to spread their wings here though, having gained confidence by qualifying via a 2-0 win over Sweden in the play-off final, while they also boast a 3-1 win over Mexico in the side’s only prior World Cup H2H back in 1978.
Players to watch: Contributions from Mexico’s Raúl Jiménez might prove vital as his country have won the last 13 matches in which he’s found the net. Poland talisman Robert Lewandowski finished as his country’s top-scorer during World Cup Qualification (G9), although he’s still waiting for his first goal at the tournament finals.
Hot stat: Poland have failed to score during the first half in nine of their last 12 matches.
World Cup trivia: Mexico participated in the first World Cup match, losing 4-1 to France on 13 July, 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
