World Cup '26

Nation dossier · Group A · Advanced to knockout

Mexico

United Mexican States

Group ACONCACAFHost nation

Latest Czech Republic 03 Mexico · Group A

Title probability

1.6%

as of 2026-06-25

Overview

Mexico arrive at their own party under pressure. Co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, El Tri desperately want to banish the memory of Qatar 2022, where they failed to escape the group for the first time since 1978. Javier Aguirre's experienced hand has steadied the ship, and the 2025 Gold Cup triumph injected belief.

This is a squad in transition, blending grizzled veterans like Ochoa and Jiménez with a promising new core built around Santiago Giménez and Edson Álvarez. The pressure of a passionate home crowd cuts both ways — inspiration and expectation in equal measure.

Capital

Mexico City

Population

128,900,000

Confederation

CONCACAF

FIFA code

MEX

World
Region

From Wikipedia

United Mexican States fields one of the 48 national teams contesting the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Source: Wikipedia →

Squad

Goalkeepers3
  • 1

    Luis Malagón

    Club América · Rising first-choice keeper

    18caps
  • 12

    Carlos Acevedo

    Santos Laguna · Reliable shot-stopping option

    6caps
  • 13

    Guillermo Ochoa

    AVS · Veteran World Cup shot-stopper

    151caps
Defenders8
  • 2

    Johan Vásquez

    Genoa · Combative Serie A defender

    35caps
  • 3

    César Montes

    Lokomotiv Moscow · Commanding aerial center-back

    54caps
  • 4

    Israel Reyes

    Club América · Versatile young defender

    15caps
  • 5

    Víctor Guzmán

    Monterrey · Solid defensive cover

    12caps
  • 15

    Rodrigo Huescas

    Copenhagen · Pacey wing-back prospect

    8caps
  • 19

    Jorge Sánchez

    Cruz Azul · Attacking right-back option

    40caps
  • 21

    Kevin Álvarez

    Club América · Tireless modern full-back

    18caps
  • 23

    Jesús Gallardo

    Toluca · Energetic overlapping left-back

    75caps
Midfielders7
  • 4

    Edson Álvarez

    West Ham United · Captain and midfield anchor

    80caps
  • 6

    Luis Romo

    Cruz Azul · Box-to-box engine

    50caps
  • 7

    Diego Lainez

    Tigres UANL · Direct dribbling winger

    30caps
  • 10

    Orbelín Pineda

    AEK Athens · Creative attacking midfielder

    55caps
  • 14

    Luis Chávez

    Dynamo Moscow · Set-piece specialist playmaker

    40caps
  • 16

    Erik Lira

    Cruz Azul · Tidy ball-winning midfielder

    12caps
  • 18

    Carlos Rodríguez

    Cruz Azul · Composed deep-lying passer

    35caps
Forwards5
  • 9

    Santiago Giménez

    AC Milan · Clinical penalty-box finisher

    33caps
  • 11

    Raúl Jiménez

    Fulham · Experienced target man

    105caps
  • 17

    Alexis Vega

    Toluca · Skilful forward threat

    30caps
  • 20

    César Huerta

    Anderlecht · Tricky left-sided attacker

    12caps
  • 22

    Hirving Lozano

    San Diego FC · Explosive pacey winger

    70caps

Model

as of 2026-06-25
Champion1.6%
Reach final4.1%
Semi-final13.4%
Quarter-final35.6%
Round of 1674.8%
Advance from group100.0%

Exp. points

9.00

Proj. finish

13.0

Seed Elo

1810

Title-probability trajectory

Champion chance across the last 14 snapshots

Matches

History

  1. 1986

    Quarter-finals

  2. 2018

    Round of 16

  3. 2022

    Group stage

Culture

Football culture

Liga MX boasts some of the highest attendances in the world, with fierce rivalries like Club América vs Chivas dividing the nation. The green shirt of *El Tri* commands near-religious devotion, and the supporters' traveling army is among the loudest at any World Cup.

Did you know

  • The Estadio Azteca will host its third World Cup — a global first.
  • Mexico hosted the iconic 1970 and 1986 World Cups, both featuring Maradona and Pelé legends.
  • Guillermo Ochoa is one of few players to appear at five World Cups.
  • Mexico won Olympic football gold at London 2012, beating Brazil.
  • The 'Cielito Lindo' chant echoes around every Mexican match worldwide.