Mixing old faces and new, Mexico will try to exorcise a FIFA World Cup ghost that has loomed over every one of their participations since they last hosted in 1986.
Whatever happens in terms of the team’s performance this summer, Mexico is guaranteed to make World Cup history.
The men’s tournament comes to Mexican soil for the third time, this time as co-host with the United States and Canada, making it the country that’s held it most often.
And there’s no better time for El Tri to play in front of their very own crowd than now. After a long period of instability and mixed results, the team seems to have found some footing under veteran coach Javier Aguirre, back at the helm having also led them at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. Under him, Mexico won both the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Nations League last year.
Looking to the more immediate past, Mexico go into the World Cup on an eight-game unbeaten run in 2026, conceding just twice (1-1 vs Belgium, 5-1 vs Serbia) in the process.
While Aguirre has often been criticised for a somewhat pragmatic outlook, there are hints they head into this tournament looking to be a little more front-footed. After all, in 2026, they’ve only had less possession than their opponents twice (48% vs Belgium and 35% vs Portugal); given the quality of that opposition, you can probably forgive them.
Aguirre has favoured a mix of 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1 in his team’s shape since returning to the national team. One of the first tasks in his mind was settling the defence, with Mexico possessing plenty of flair and craft going forward.
As already mentioned, Mexico’s form this year supports the theory Aguirre has largely succeeded in establishing a dependable defence, which tends to comprise Jorge Sánchez, César Montes, Edson Álvarez and Jesús Gallardo.
While none of them play in a top league, they have benefited from proper playing time rather than being picked based on the coach’s preference or loyalties, which was a criticism of Tata Martino and Jaime Lozano.
Despite the logically heavy rotation for the recent friendlies, Jesús Gallardo is expected to start having only last month helped Toluca secure a third CONCACAF Champions Cup after also securing two Liga MX titles in 2025, winning both the Clausura and Apertura.
Since he joined Los Diablos Rojos in July 2024, no defender has more assists (13) or goals (12) than Gallardo in Liga MX, and Aguirre will rely on him to help the midfield when Mexico are on the offensive.
Behind Gallardo and Co., there is no shortage of options for Aguirre in goal, though Raúl Rangel has emerged as the first-choice option after a decent Clausura 2026 with Chivas, his six clean sheets bettered by only two other goalkeepers in the competition.
Unlike many other Mexican goalkeepers of the past, Rangel’s emergence has been built on a calm and considered demeanour as opposed to extravagance. Nevertheless, there’s clearly still space for a bit of that in the Mexico squad as Cristiano Ronaldo. Either way, his inclusion this time has polarised opinion back home, with many feeling it’s merely a sentimental selection.
But while there’s a reasonable amount of crossover between the defenders chosen for this World Cup and Qatar 2022, not to mention Ochoa’s presence in the squad again, Mexico’s midfield this time around is full of younger (or newer) blood. Only Orbelín Pineda and Luis Chávez are going to a second successive World Cup.
One of the most interesting (and youngest) additions to this area of the pitch by Aguirre is Raúl Jiménez, of course, is the most recognisable name having spent the past 12 years playing in Europe. And although he is getting on a bit at 35 years old, he remains the main focus of the attack, having scored 20 times in 20 games since Aguirre returned for his third spell in charge.
Among the exciting younger players looking to make an impression in attack will be ‘La Hormiga’ (the Ant)
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