Mexico will start their U17 World Cup campaign this week as they try to make it to the 2026 U17 World Cup. Mexico has name the squad and is already in Trinidad and Tobago, where they will take part in four matches as they look to book the only spot for the World Cup in Group A. Mexico will start their campaign on Thursday when they face off against Sint Maarten. Mexico will then face off against Saint Martin on Saturday before facing off once again against Barbados (who they faced off the U17 World Cup qualifiers
in 2025) on Monday and closing out against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, February 13th.
The call up list from coach Jurgen Castañeda was the following:
Goalkeepers: Marcelo Avalos (San Jose Earthquakes), Jose Corona (Tijuana), Johan Cuenca (Tigres)
Defenders: Alan Hernandez (Leon), Dylan Martinez (Necaxa), Adonai Velez (America), Gerson Gutierrez (Chivas), Eliud Sanchez (Mazatlan), Gael Solorio (Atlas), Andre Godinez (Chivas)
Midfielders: Jonathan de la Fuente (Colorado Rapids), Edy Lugo (Monterrey), Angel Reyes (San Luis), Luis Trujillo (America), Uziel Vargas (Chivas), Tadeo Mota (Atlas), Ricardo Gonzalez (America), David Orduño (Tijuana)
Forwards: Santiago Cisneros (Leon), Carlos Calvillo (Santos), Adan Sanchez (Monterrey)
While Mexico will be favorites for the ticket, they will be missing key players like Da’vian Kimbrough and Saulo Tejeda. Still Mexico will come to the tournament as winner of the Torneo del Sol, where they went undefeated and won the title after defeating Liga Premier by a 1-0 score. The toughest hurdle will be the fact that unlike in 2025, Mexico will not be hosting the tournament and they will probably have to face off for the ticket against Trinidad and Tobago at home, a tough match that wouldn’t be such if it was a neutral site or at home. No word yet on why wasn’t Mexico not able to host this time around. Mexico has won the last two tournaments played (the Torneo del Sol and Four Nations Cup late last year) after a disappointing Torneo Liga de MX Internacional, but that tournament was the debut for Castañeda as coach, which means he doesn’t have much time with the team. It will be tougher than in 2025 but Mexico should still be the favorites to get that sole ticket that the group gives to the 2026 U17 World Cup.
