KEY STATS:
* Mexico missed out on top spot in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers to Canada only by goal difference.
* Mexico are competing at their 17th World Cup and their eighth in a row, but they have been eliminated in the last-16 at every edition since 1994. * Poland are competing at their ninth World Cup and are looking to improve on their 2018 run when they finished bottom of their group.
* Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored nine goals in the World Cup qualifiers and he has been in fine form for his new club Barcelona this season, netting 18 times in 19 games in all competitions. Previous meetings:
* Mexico and Poland have played each other nine times, with both teams winning three games each and three ending in draws. * Poland have not beaten Mexico since 1978, the only time the teams met at a World Cup.
* The last time they played each other was in November 2017 when Raul Jimenez scored in a 1-0 win for Mexico.
PREVIEW
Mexico and Poland kick-start their World Cup campaign on Tuesday knowing the outcome of the clash could decide who survives beyond the group stage of the 2022 tournament.
Group favourites Argentina take on unlikely contenders Saudi Arabia in the earlier duel, and barring a major upset in that match the second spot in the final group rankings is likely to go to either Mexico or Poland.
Mexico's strong record of being unbeaten in their World Cup openers is a statistic any team could fear. They won five and drew one in the most recent six tournaments, always making it to the knockout stage.
The last time Mexico failed to find their way past the group stage was back in 1978 -- when they earned zero points in the group Poland topped.
This, however, is where the pros seem to end for Mexico this time round.
Coach Gerardo Martino's side is short in the striker department as, to the bafflement of Mexico's fans, the Argentine decided to leave out their all-time top scorer Javier Hernandez despite his good form this season.
Further dampening the mood, Mexico lost their last pre-World Cup friendly against Sweden, conceding a late goal and heading to Qatar one day later.
CAREFREE POLAND
Sweden was the last side Poland beat on their way to seal their spot in the World Cup finals when they grabbed a 2-0 victory in the March playoff.
That was coach Czeslaw Michniewicz first game in charge, and since then, the atmosphere around the team has been that of expect nothing and appreciate everything.
"Indeed, this is something new for me," said former Poland Under-21 manager who previously had no international experience with any senior squad.
"For now I am calm, I don't feel any pressure. I'm happy that all the players are healthy. I know who I have at my disposal and the most difficult decision, the selection, is behind me. (Now let's) work according to the plan."
If Poland survives the group stage it will be the first time since 1986, and they failed to qualify for the finals more times than they qualified during the intervening years.
But Poland possess something Mexico do not - a world class striker. Robert Lewandowski has said it may or may not be his last World Cup, but has approached it as if it is, and will want to make sure this is one to remember.