Mexico announces its first list with 12 players called for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Forward Guillermo Martínez, of the Pumas UNAM, is the main novelty in this call for elements of the MX League that will represent the Mexican “Tricolor” in the next World Cup, announced by the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).
In a statement, the group of 2 goalkeepers, 2 defenders, 5 midfielders and 3 forwards who will gather in Mexico City from May 6 to begin the final part of the preparation for the big World Cup event this summer was confirmed.
“Memote” Martínez, with 5 goals in the Clausura tournament, appears as an alternative in the attack at a time when the coach, Javier Aguirre, has doubts about the evolution of the ailments of some forwards, especially Santiago Giménez, from the Italian Milan, with few minutes of play after returning from an injury.
In addition to the 12 chosen for the World Cup, “Vasco” Aguirre called 8 young people with growth potential, who will accompany the group as ‘helpers’, with the knowledge that they have no chance of being in the World Cup (except for a last-minute unforeseen event).
That group of sparring partners is made up of goalkeeper Óscar García (León); the defenders: Luis Rey (Puebla), Eduardo Águila (San Luis), Jesús Gómez (Tijuana) and Denzell García (Juárez FC); midfielders Iker Fimbres (Monterrey) and Jairo Torres (Juárez FC); and forward Kevin Castañeda (Tijuana).
The final list of the Mexican national team will be completed no later than June 1 with the players who play abroad, the majority in Europe.
In it, barring a surprise, there will be players like forward Raúl Jiménez, from English Fulham, and defender Johan Vásquez, from Italian Genoa, as well as goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, from Limassol in Cyprus, who would participate in his sixth World Cup.
The big absentee from the squad is midfielder Marcel Ruiz, from Toluca, who was expected to start in the World Cup, but suffered a serious knee injury and there are doubts about his recovery.
Javier Aguirre’s team has three friendly matches left before the World Cup, against the Ghana team on Friday, May 22 (3 pm ET) at the Cuauhtémoc Stadium in Puebla; against the Australian team on Saturday, May 30 (9 pm ET) at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, and against the Serbian team on Thursday, June 4 (4 pm ET) at the Nemesio Diez Stadium in Toluca.
It should be reported that the squad of Mexico will play the 2026 World Cup in group Ain which they will face South Africa on Thursday, June 11 (3 pm ET) at the Banorte (Azteca) Stadium in Mexico City; to South Korea on Thursday, June 18 (9 pm ET) at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara; and to the Czech Republic on Wednesday, June 24 (9 pm ET) at the Banorte Stadium.
The two times that Mexico hosted the World Cup, it reached the quarterfinals, which is a challenge for Aguirre’s ‘Tri’.
First calls
This is the first list of those called up for the Mexican soccer team for the World Cup this summer 2026:
– Goalkeepers:
Raúl Rangel (Guadalajara) and Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna).
– Defenses:
Israel Reyes (America) and Jesús Gallardo (Toluca)
– Midfielders:
Luis Romo (Guadalajara), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutiérrez (Guadalajara), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara).
– Forwards:
Alexis Vega (Toluca), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas UNAM) and Armando González (Guadalajara).
