It is the strong choice of Mexico coach, Javier Aguirre, now accompanied by Rafael Marquez as assistant. Three months before a 2026 World Cup co-organized with Canada and the United States, which will see the Tri face South Africa in the opening match, on June 11 at the Azteca stadium (Mexico), then South Korea and the winner of the European play-off Czechia/Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia, the emblematic goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has been recalled.
Ochoa, 40, was no longer part of his coach’s plans since last summer and the 2025 Gold Cup, but the holder of the Mexican team during the continental coronation (against the United States, 2-1), Luis Malagon, is injured. The goalkeeper who played for AC Ajaccio (2011-2014), who plays in Limassol, Cyprus, is not having a very good season. To see if he will have playing time during the two preparation matches against Portugal and Belgium, on March 28 and 31.
Ochoa like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?
“Memo” Ochoa is the third most capped Mexican international in history with 151 caps (behind Andrés Guardado and Claudio Suárez, 180 and 176 matches on the clock). If he is called up for the World Cup next June, he would make football history a little further by playing in a sixth World Cup, as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also hope. No one has more than five participations in the quadrennial meeting.
Javier Aguirre calls up a new player with Alvaro Fidalgo, from Real Betis. This midfielder trained at Real Madrid, former Spanish U17 international, has just changed his sporting nationality to respond to the call-up from Mexico. The attack is led by Raul Jiménez, 44 goals in 121 caps, as well as Julian Quiñones, second top scorer in the Saudi championship with Al-Qadsiah. Star winger Hirving Lozano is absent as he does not have a club.
