World Cup 2026: Mexico national team squad – El Tri look to harness home advantage in quest for quarter-final return
Mexico will enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup carrying the expectations of a football-mad nation as they prepare to co-host the tournament alongside the United States and Canada.
With matches set to be played on home soil for the first time since 1986, El Tri are hoping the backing of their supporters can help them equal or surpass their best-ever World Cup performances. Although Mexico are no longer regarded among the world’s elite sides, there remains widespread belief that home advantage could prove decisive.
Mexico national team
Nickname: El Tri / El Tricolor
Head coach: Javier Aguirre
Captain: Edson Álvarez
FIFA ranking (April 2026): 15
World Cup appearances: 17
Overview of Mexico
The 2026 tournament marks Mexico’s first opportunity in four decades to host the World Cup. The nation has previously reached the quarter-finals on two occasions, with both runs coming when the competition was staged in Mexico, in 1970 and 1986.
Those achievements remain among the greatest moments in Mexican football history and provide a source of optimism ahead of the tournament.
Mexico have been drawn in Group A alongside South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic, a section many observers consider one of the more competitive groups in the competition.
Their campaign begins against South Africa in Mexico City on 12 June before further fixtures against South Korea and the Czech Republic.
South Korea are expected to be one of the strongest teams in the group, with a squad featuring established international stars such as Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae. The Czech Republic also arrive with confidence after securing qualification through the European play-offs.
Mexico will likely need to be at their best throughout the group stage if they are to secure top spot and progress comfortably to the knockout rounds.
Qualifying round results
As one of the three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mexico qualified automatically and did not participate in the Concacaf qualifying campaign.
Previous World Cup performance
Mexico are among the most experienced teams in World Cup history, having appeared in the finals on 17 occasions.
Their best performances came in 1970 and 1986 when they reached the quarter-finals. However, the team has often struggled to move beyond the Round of 16 in more recent editions of the tournament.
Coach: Javier Aguirre
The appointment of Javier Aguirre followed a disappointing campaign at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Under former coach Tata Martino, Mexico failed to advance beyond the group stage, marking the first time since 1978 that El Tri had been eliminated in the opening round of a World Cup.
In response, the Mexican Football Federation turned once again to Aguirre, one of the country’s most experienced and respected managers.
His return has already delivered silverware. In March 2026, Mexico won the Concacaf Nations League, strengthening confidence that Aguirre can guide the team through a successful World Cup campaign on home soil.
Federation officials are hopeful that his experience can help Mexico at least match their historic quarter-final achievements.
Star player: Raul Jimenez
Veteran striker Raul Jimenez remains a key figure in the Mexican squad despite entering the latter stages of his international career.
The forward has earned 123 caps for his country and scored 44 goals, making him one of the most experienced players available to Aguirre.
At club level, Jimenez scored 10 goals in 41 appearances for Fulham during the season. While those figures are modest for a striker, his leadership, experience and ability to perform in major matches continue to make him an important asset.
Mexico will also look to the partnership between Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez to provide the attacking threat needed against some of the world’s strongest teams.
The combination of youth and experience in attack could be crucial to Mexico’s hopes of making a memorable run at the tournament.
Predicted lineup
Mexico are expected to field a balanced side built around captain Edson Álvarez in midfield, with Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez leading the attack.
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Fixtures
12 June: Mexico vs South Africa
19 June: Mexico vs South Korea
25 June: Czech Republic vs Mexico
Head-to-head record against teams in the same group
vs South Africa: 1 draw, 1 defeat
vs South Korea: 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat
vs Czech Republic: The two nations have never previously met
Odds of winning the championship
According to bet365, Mexico are priced at 80/1 to win the 2026 FIFA World https://share.google/QIzHECSQMnxVtpioUCup.
