Mexico World Cup squad race heats up under Aguirre
Mexico World Cup squad selection is suddenly buzzing with fresh optimism after Javier Aguirre steered El Tri to back-to-back regional titles and restored confidence ahead of the 2025 global showpiece.
Mexico World Cup squad: how many places are truly locked?
Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez have all but stamped their boarding passes. Jiménez’s 14 goals in 18 competitive outings during Aguirre’s tenure make him the undisputed No. 9, while Álvarez’s two-way authority at West Ham has translated seamlessly to midfield leadership for the national team. Beyond that pair, only captain Guillermo Ochoa feels entirely safe, leaving roughly 20 spots up for debate.
Goalkeepers
Ochoa’s last dance or a new era?
Ochoa will be 40 next summer, yet his reflexes in the Nations League final proved he is still capable of match-winning saves. Luis Malagón and Julio González are the front-runners to back him up, but Carlos Acevedo’s shot-stopping heroics at Santos Laguna keep him in the frame.
Defence
Full-back depth finally emerging
Julián Araujo, Gerardo Arteaga and Jesús Gallardo provide trusted width, but the surprise package could be 18-year-old Omar Campos, whose pace and crossing have dazzled for Feyenoord. At centre-back, Johan Vásquez and César Montes are the likely starters. However, Santiago Bueno’s aerial dominance in La Liga and veteran Héctor Moreno’s experience offer contrasting options.
Midfield
Álvarez plus… who partners him?
Luis Romero’s metronomic passing at Pachuca has impressed Aguirre, while Erick Sánchez’s energy off the bench is invaluable. Marcel Ruiz, one of Liga MX’s most progressive passers, is pushing hard, and 19-year-old Alejandro Orellana could earn a shock call-up if his form at Real Sociedad B continues.
Attack
Jiménez leads, but wing spots are wide open
Hirving Lozano’s revival at PSV positions him as first-choice on the right, with Diego Lainez and Uriel Antuna rotating on the opposite flank. Santiago Giménez, fresh from a 22-goal season at Feyenoord, gives Aguirre a physical alternative to Jiménez. Don’t overlook Marcelo Flores either; the Arsenal prospect’s creativity might be the X-factor Mexico lacked in 2022.
Potential surprise entrants
1. Bruce El-Mesmari (Pachuca): A versatile winger-full-back hybrid who excels in transitional phases.
2. Rodrigo Huescas (Cruz Azul): An inverted wide player with a knack for late-box runs.
3. Fidel Ambriz (León): A ball-winning No. 6 groomed as Álvarez’s understudy.
4. Jesús Hernández (Elche): A 6’3″ target man offering Plan B aerial threat.
5. Nathan Ordaz (LAFC): MLS-born poacher whose dual nationality paperwork is now complete.
September friendlies: final audition window
Japan’s pressing and South Korea’s pace will stress-test Aguirre’s tactical tweaks. He plans to trial a hybrid 3-4-3 that morphs into a 4-2-3-1 in possession— a shape designed to maximize Jiménez’s hold-up play and unleash overlapping full-backs. Performance in these games could tip the balance for fringe faces like Campos, Ambriz and Lainez.
Projected 23-man list
Goalkeepers (3)
Ochoa, Malagón, Acevedo
Defenders (8)
Arteaga, Araujo, Gallardo, Campos, Vásquez, Montes, Bueno, Moreno
Midfielders (7)
Álvarez, Romo, Sánchez, Ruiz, Ambriz, Orellana, Orbelín Pineda
Forwards (5)
Jiménez, Giménez, Lozano, Antuna, Lainez
Could veteran stars miss out?
Andrés Guardado’s farewell tour seemed certain, yet dwindling minutes at Betis may close the door. Likewise, Carlos Vela remains reluctant to end his international hiatus, and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández’s injuries have eroded his chances despite MLS form. Aguirre insists reputations alone will not sway decisions: “Current performance outweighs history.”
Tactics and leadership
Aguirre’s trademark pragmatism—compact defensive lines, quick vertical transitions and high-energy pressing—has reinvented Mexico. The coach relies on Álvarez for balance, while Jiménez drags centre-backs to create interior corridors for wingers. Set-pieces, traditionally a Mexican weakness, have become decisive weapons, already producing six goals under set-piece coach Nicolás Lodeiro.
The road ahead
October brings a European mini-camp in Marbella, followed by closed-door friendlies against Morocco and Serbia. The final roster is due on 15 May 2025, three weeks before the tournament opener in Boston against Croatia. Aguirre wants chemistry sealed by February, meaning club form from January’s transfer window will heavily influence late choices.
What success in 2025 would mean
Mexico have not reached a World Cup quarter-final since 1986. Breaking that “quinto partido” curse is the federation’s publicly stated minimum. With the majority of starters now playing in Europe and a coach renowned for tournament nous, optimism is rising that El Tri can finally rewrite history on North American soil.
Opinion
Aguirre’s mix of seasoned leaders and fearless youngsters feels balanced, and the renewed competition for places is healthy. If he resists the temptation to over-rotate and keeps faith in the system that won the Gold Cup, El Tri’s ceiling could be higher than pundits realise.
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