Mexico officially named their squad for the 2026 World Cup. With no surprises, especially since the federation had been announcing when each player joined the National team training camp, the 26 players that will take part in Mexico’s third time hosting the biggest international tournament in the world, but for the first time doing so as a co-host. Mexico will make their debut in the opening game of the World Cup when the face off against South Africa.
The call up list by Javier was the following:
Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel (Chivas), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
Defenders: Johan Vasquez (Genoa FC), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chavez (AZ Alkmaar), Israel Reyes (America)
Midfielders: Edson Alvarez (Fenerbahce), Alvaro Fidalgo (Betis), Obed Vargas (Atletico Madrid), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Luis Chavez (Dinamo Moscow), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Luis Romo (Chivas), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutierrez (Chivas)
Forwards: Raul Jimenez (Fulham), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan), Julian Quiñones (Al Qadsiyah), Cesar Huerta (Anderlecht), Armando Gonzalez (Chivas), Guillermo Martinez (UNAM Pumas), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas)
The Mexican Federation announced it by releasing a video narrated by the AI voice of Robert Gomez Bolaños, who was a legendary comedian in Mexico as he played both El Chavo and Chespirito. Bolaños died in 2014.
There were few controversies as the list was widely expected because of the announcements made. As announced, all the players called up early for training camp, who missed the Liguilla, made it to the final list. While they had been rumors that either Marcel Ruiz or Carlos Rodriguez were going to make the list even when they played the Liguilla, neither did. Ruiz’s injury in the CONCACAF Champions Cup proved to much to overcome and Rodriguez never impressed when he played with the National team. The other big surprise was the non call up of German Berterame, but the forwards couldn’t have been that surprised because of the intense competition as well as his decision to leave Liga MX for MLS, even when it was Inter Miami and playing alongside Lionel Messi. Celtic based Julian Araujo also didn’t make the list but his injury that ended his season also was too much to overcome. Same thing for Rodrigo Huescas of FC Copenhagen.
Mexico’s squad for the World Cup will start their campaign on June 11th when they open the whole tournament by facing off against South Africa in Estadio Azteca. They will travel to Guadalajara to play against South Korea in Estadio Akron on June 18th, the first time ever they will play a Group Stage World Cup game outside Mexico City (They played knockout stage games in Toluca and Monterrey). They close out their group stage matches by facing Czechia in Estadio Azteca on June 24th. Prior to the World Cup they will have a friendly match on June 4th against Serbia in Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca.
