Mexico World Cup 2026: El Tri leaning heavily on home support

As one of three home nations at this year's World Cup, Mexico will be hopeful of a positive tournament, aided by their passionate supporters. All three of their Group A games against South Korea, South Africa and the Czech Republic are on Mexican soil, so the pressure is on to deliver from the get-go.

Below are my Mexico World Cup 2026 predictions, including an assessment of their squad.

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Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna).

Defenders: Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), Israel Reyes (Club America), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Johan Vasquez (Genoa), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chavez (AZ).

Midfielders: Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Roberto Alvarado, Brian Gutierrez, Luis Romo (all Guadalajara), Edson Alvarez (West Ham), Obed Vargas (Atletico Madrid), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Luis Chavez (Dynamo Moscow).

Forwards: Cesar Huerta (Anderlecht), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah), Guillermo Martinez (UNAM), Armando Gonzalez (Guadalajara), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan), Raul Jimenez (Fulham).

Guillermo Ochoa has joined an elite group of players after being named in his sixth World Cup squad, a feat matched only by a couple of multi-Ballon d'Or winners, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

At the other end of the scale, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora is set to become Mexico's youngest-ever player at a World Cup, while naturalised duo Alvaro Fidalgo and Julian Quinones, born in Spain and Colombia, respectively, have been included by the vastly-experienced Javier Aguirre, who led El Tri at the 2002 and 2010 finals.

World Cup Odds

As a host nation, Mexico qualified automatically for this year's World Cup, meaning they didn't have to navigate their way through a qualification campaign.

Competitive matches have been scarce, then, although there was a successful Gold Cup last year when they beat the USA 2-1 in their own backyard.

That victory over the Stars and Stripes last July was their final one of 2025, however, as they went winless in six subsequent friendlies (D2, L4).

Mexico have made a positive start to 2026, though, winning five and drawing two of their seven friendlies, and both stalemates were against high-quality opposition in Portugal (0-0) and Belgium (1-1).

Group A Fixtures:

11 June 1pm local (8pm BST) - vs South Africa (Mexico City)

18 June 7pm local (18 June 2am BST) - vs South Korea (Guadalajara)

24 June 7pm local (25 June 2am BST) - vs Czech Republic (Mexico City)

Player to watch: Raul Jimenez

Fulham striker Raul Jimenez is third on Mexico's all-time top scorer list with 44 goals but has failed to score in any of his six World Cup appearances, spread across three tournaments.

His experience leading the line will be vital, and he's shown that there is plenty of life left in the old dog yet with nine Premier League goals this season.

Football Odds

Prediction: Round of 32

Mexico are favourites to win Group A, and while they may well do so, I think they'll struggle in the knockouts, even against a third-placed side in the round of 32.

Home support could see them through, but on paper, it's one of the weakest Mexico squads I've seen.