Mexico will host Canada this Saturday, December 13, at Estadio Wilfrido Massieu in Mexico City in a men’s tackle international friendly game.

The Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Americano (FMFA) will host the game which sees the Canada men’s national team continue its series of overseas games having played in Europe three times this year.

Mexico’s last international appearance came at the 2015 IFAF World Championship in Canton, Ohio, where they captured the bronze medal.

Canada arrives in Mexico having beaten an experimental Italy line up 56-0 in April, while the second meeting between the two nations was a closer affair in November when Europe’s bronze medalists lost by only three points in a 20-17 Canada win. Canada ended their 2025 European tour with a 25–10 win over Europe’s fourth-ranked nation Germany in Bochum.

Head coach and general manager Jesse Maddox brings back the core of Canada’s high-powered offence, including both quarterbacks Chris Merchant and Michael O’Connor, along with star running back Jamel Lyles, in the backfield. On defense, Maddox has refreshed the front seven, evaluating new talent as Canada begins to shape its roster for 2026.

Mexico opened camp with more than 100 players and has since narrowed the list to 65 candidates, with a final 45-man game roster to be confirmed in game week. The two countries have already built a fierce rivalry at the under-20 level. At the 2018 IFAF U19 World Championships in Mexico City, Canada edged Mexico 13–7 in the gold medal game at Estadio Olímpico ’68 in front of a crowd of 30,515, a record attendance for an IFAF event.

That history – combined with Mexico’s passionate home support and a rejuvenated player pool – sets the stage for an emotionally charged contest.