Mexico
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Starting XI Prediction
Star Players
All Players →
Fixtures
Group A
Group A
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 |  South Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 |  South Africa | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 |  Czechia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Full Squad Players List
| # | Player | Pos | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||
| 1 | Álex PadillaXI Athletic Club | GK | |
| 12 | Guillermo Ochoa AEL Limassol | GK | |
| 13 | Antonio Rodríguez Tijuana | GK | |
| 25 | Carlos Acevedo Santos Laguna | GK | |
| 27 | Carlos Moreno Pachuca | GK | |
| 28 | Raúl Rangel Chivas | GK | |
| Defenders | |||
| 2 | Jorge SánchezXI PAOK | RB | |
| 3 | Jesús GallardoXI Toluca | LB | |
| 4 | Johan VásquezXI Genoa | CB | |
| 5 | César MontesXI Lokomotiv Moscow | CB | |
| 14 | Bryan González Chivas | RB | |
| 15 | Eduardo Águila Atlético de San Luis | CB | |
| 18 | Everardo López Toluca | CB | |
| 19 | Jesús Angulo Tigres | RB | |
| 20 | Jesús Gómez Tijuana | CB | |
| 22 | Julián Araujo Celtic | RB | |
| 23 | Israel Reyes América | CB | |
| 24 | Luis Rey Puebla | CB | |
| 29 | Mateo Chávez AZ Alkmaar | LB | |
| 30 | Ramón Juárez América | RB | |
| 31 | Richard Ledezma Chivas | RB | |
| Midfielders | |||
| 6 | Edson ÁlvarezXI Fenerbahçe | CDM | |
| 8 | Carlos RodríguezXI Cruz Azul | CM | |
| 16 | Orbelín Pineda AEK | CAM | |
| 21 | Erik Lira Cruz Azul | CDM | |
| 32 | Víctor Guzmán Monterrey | CDM | |
| 33 | Alexei Domínguez Pachuca | CM | |
| 34 | Alexis Gutiérrez América | CM | |
| 35 | Álvaro Fidalgo Real Betis | CM | |
| 36 | Brian Gutiérrez Chivas | CAM | |
| 37 | Denzell Garcia FC Juárez | CM | |
| 38 | Efrain Álvarez Chivas | CAM | |
| 39 | Elias Montiel Pachuca | CM | |
| 40 | Erick Sánchez América | CM | |
| 41 | Gilberto Mora Tijuana | CM | |
| 42 | Isaías Violante América | CAM | |
| 43 | Jeremy Márquez Cruz Azul | CM | |
| 44 | Jesús Angulo Toluca | CM | |
| 45 | Jordan Carrillo Pumas | CM | |
| 46 | Jorge Ruvalcaba NY Red Bulls | CM | |
| 47 | Kevin Castañeda Tijuana | CM | |
| 48 | Luis Chávez Dinamo Moscú | CDM | |
| 49 | Luis Romo Chivas | CDM | |
| 50 | Marcel Ruiz Toluca | CM | |
| 51 | Obed Vargas Atlético de Madrid | CM | |
| Forwards | |||
| 7 | Julián QuiñonesXI Al-Qadisiyah | RW | |
| 9 | Santiago GiménezXI Milan | ST | |
| 10 | Alexis VegaXI Toluca | LW | |
| 11 | Raúl JiménezXI Fulham | ST | |
| 17 | Roberto Alvarado Chivas | RW | |
| 26 | Diego Lainez Tigres | LW | |
| 52 | Armando González Chivas | ST | |
| 53 | César Huerta Anderlecht | LW | |
| 54 | Germán Berterame Inter Miami | ST | |
| 55 | Guillermo Martínez Pumas | ST | |
World Cup History
—
Titles
17
Appearances
61
WC Goals
16
Wins
Best finish: Quarter-finals (1970, 1986)
Top scorer: Javier Hernández (4 goals)
Most capped: Rafael Márquez (19 matches)
Record: 16W – 13D – 26L
Mexico are one of the most consistent qualifiers in World Cup history — El Tri have reached 17 tournaments and advanced from the group stage in every edition from 1994 to 2018. But they've never broken the 'Quinto Partido' curse: seven consecutive Round of 16 exits that haunt Mexican football. As co-hosts of 2026, they open the tournament at the iconic Estadio Azteca — their greatest chance yet to end that streak.
Tournament Eras
The Early Campaigns and Hosting 1970
1930–1970Mexico appeared in the inaugural 1930 World Cup and became regular qualifiers. As hosts in 1970 they reached their first-ever quarter-final, only to be eliminated by Italy 4-1. The tournament introduced El Tri to a generation of passionate home fans.
Hugo Sánchez and the 1986 Hosts
1978–1986Mexico hosted again in 1986 — a tournament saved from Colombia's withdrawal — and again reached the quarter-finals with a team inspired by Hugo Sánchez. They fell to West Germany on penalties in an emotionally charged Azteca quarter-final, setting a template for glorious near-misses.
The Quinto Partido Curse
1994–2018Mexico qualified for seven consecutive World Cups and advanced from the group stage every time — then lost in the Round of 16 in every single one. The 'fifth match' (quinto partido) became a national obsession: moments of brilliance followed by inevitable heartbreak against European or South American powerhouses.
Iconic Moments
Azteca 1986 — The Quarter-Final Penalty Heartbreak
In front of 110,000 roaring fans at the Azteca, Mexico pushed West Germany to a penalty shootout. They scored their first two but missed the next three. The silence that fell over the stadium previewed the curse that would define Mexican football for the next 30 years.
Manuel Negrete's Bicycle Kick — 1986
Manuel Negrete's stunning overhead kick against Bulgaria was voted Mexico's greatest World Cup goal. It remains one of the most technically perfect strikes in tournament history.
2026 — Opening Match at the Azteca
Mexico opens the 2026 World Cup at Estadio Azteca — the only venue to host World Cup matches in three different editions (1970, 1986, 2026). The occasion is a chance to exorcise decades of Round of 16 heartbreak on home soil.