The Mexican team completed its first two friendly matches of the year 2026, winning as a visitor. 1-0, in Panama on January 22, and in Bolivia on January 25.
After these victories obtained by the minimum difference, the “Tricolor” team has not been able to convince its critics or the fans who are concerned about the level of play displayed.
The doubts occur especially in the creative and offensive part, sectors of the field that coach Javier “Vasco” Aguirre will have to work much more thinking about improving to play a good role in next summer’s World Cup, the largest soccer event that will take place in venues in North America (in Mexico, the United States and Canada).
With a goal from Berterame
Mexico, presenting an alternative team (since it was not played on the FIFA date), added its second victory in four days this Sunday by winning the international friendly match in Bolivia 1-0.
The Argentine-Mexican striker Germán Berterame scored the goal in the 68th minute of the match held at the Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium, in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
From the beginning of the match, “El Tri” went out in search of beating the experienced Bolivian goalkeeper Carlos Lampe, who had to intervene assiduously in the face of the defensive failures of the host team. The “Green” responded with striker Fernando Nava, but his attempts were neutralized by the Aztec defense.
In the second half, “Vasco” Aguirre, with three changes, sought to rearrange his midfield to give more power to his team. In the 68th minute, Berterame, who had entered the field ten minutes earlier, took advantage of a weak rejection by Lampe and scored the only goal of the match with a right-footed shot.
It should be noted that Mexico’s squad for this international tour was made up mostly of footballers who play in Liga MX, with the exception of Obed Vargas, midfielder for the Seattle Sounders of the MLS, who also added minutes in this preparation process.
Mexico’s next friendly match is against Iceland, on Wednesday, February 25, at 9 pm ET, at the Corregidora Stadium in the Mexican city of Querétaro.
Then there will be two more preparatory matches, before the start of the World Cup, facing Portugal (Saturday, March 28, 9 pm ET) at the Azteca Stadium (Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City; and later to Belgium (Tuesday, March 31, 3:30 pm ET) at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL (United States).
For the Bolivian team, the match played against “Tri” was the last of its preparation to face the Suriname team on Thursday, March 26, in Monterrey (Mexico), in the international FIFA playoff that gives two places for the 2026 World Cup.
This is how they aligned
– Bolivia (0): Carlos Lampe; Lucas Macazaga, Luis Paz, Marcelo Tórrez, Richet Gómez (Leonardo Zabala, 7) – Ervin Vaca, Moisés Villarroel (Robson Matheus, 66), Ramiro Vaca – Carlos Melgar (Lucas Chávez, 75), Fernando Nava (Máximo Mamani, 75) and Bruno Miranda (Juan Godoy, 46).
– DT: Oscar Villegas.
– Mexico (1): Raúl Rangel; Jorge Sánchez (Alexis Gutiérrez, 58′), Israel Reyes (Ramón Juárez, 33′), Everardo López, Jesús Gallardo; Carlos Rodríguez, Erik Lira, Marcel Ruiz (Luis Romo, 73′); Diego Lainez (Denzell García, 58′), Kevin Castañeda (Brian Gutiérrez, 72′) and Armando González (Germán Berterame, 58′).
– DT: Javier Aguirre.
– Incidents: Friendly match after FIFA date in front of more than 25 thousand spectators at the Ramón Tahuichi Aguilera Stadium, in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
