MEXICO CITY (AP) 鈥� Mexico’s dire performance at the last in Qatar served as a wake-up call for this year’s event. The message was clear: needed new players if it wanted a different ending on home soil in 2026.
Four years after the national soccer team’s disappointing group-stage exit 鈥� Mexico’s earliest World Cup finish since 1978 鈥� coach youthful gamble is already showing promise.
El Tri opened this year’s tournament with a convincing over South Africa, fielding seven players who were making their World Cup debuts 鈥� including forward Juli谩n Qui帽ones, who scored the first goal in only the ninth minute of the match.
鈥淲e worked hard on our mental game so the size of the stage wouldn鈥檛 affect us, and we were able to get off to a good start,鈥� said midfielder Erik Lira, another player making his debut on soccer’s biggest stage.
The 26-year-old Lira played a crucial role in the victory, forcing a key turnover that directly led to Mexico鈥檚 first goal.
In addition to Qui帽ones and Lira, Aguirre handed World Cup debuts to 脕lvaro Fidalgo, Ra煤l Rangel, Israel Reyes, Brian Guti茅rrez, Armando Gonz谩lez and teenage sensation Gilberto Mora. Defender Johan V谩squez, who traveled to Qatar but didn鈥檛 see any playing time, also made his tournament debut.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the happiest day of my life. From the moment we walked out of the tunnel, Mateo (Ch谩vez) and I felt like crying,鈥� said Gonz谩lez, who came on as a second-half substitute. 鈥淵ou dream about it as a kid, you imagine it, you see it on TV, but to actually make your debut is incredible.鈥�
Fidalgo, a Spanish-born playmaker who became a naturalized Mexican citizen earlier this year, echoed that pride.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 describe it, maybe I鈥檒l be able to in a while. I don鈥檛 think I鈥檓 fully aware of it yet,鈥� Fidalgo said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to be playing my first World Cup match, and to do it with Mexico is a source of pride and an honor. From here on out, we鈥檙e on the upswing.鈥�
With this rejuvenated core, Mexico will target a second victory when the team faces South Korea on Thursday in Guadalajara. The Mexicans currently lead Group A on goal difference over the South Koreans, who opened their tournament with .
A victory would virtually guarantee El Tri鈥檚 passage to the knockout rounds, helping erase the bitter memory of the early exit in Qatar. It would also fuel hopes of emulating Mexico鈥檚 best-ever World Cup performances 鈥� reaching the quarterfinals, a feat achieved as hosts in 1970 and 1986.
Despite the mounting excitement, the team is keeping its feet on the ground, especially with two knockout matches to play before the quarterfinals in this year’s expanded 48-team World Cup.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 think about playing a sixth match (the quarterfinals) without even playing the second,鈥� Lira said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e taking it one step at a time, but we want to make it clear that our ambitions are very high and that we won鈥檛 settle for anything less.鈥�
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