The Mexico national football team represents Mexico at the international level. As a member of CONCACAF, Mexico has the most successful national team in the confederation, winning a total of eleven titles. This includes eight CONCACAF Gold Cup trophies and three CONCACAF Championships, among other notable achievements.
In the early 20th century, football in Mexico was first introduced by immigrant groups. The first official match was played against Guatemala, in which Mexico won 3-2. Subsequently, several matches were played against Guatemala on December 12 and December 16, 1923.
The official football body of Mexico was formed in 1927, and they played their first international tournament at the 1928 Summer Olympics, where they lost to Spain 1-7.
| Mexico National Football Team Information | |
|---|---|
| Captain | Edson Álvarez |
| Nickname | El Tri (The Tricolor) |
| FIFA code | MEX |
| FIFA Current Ranking | 14 (11 June 2026) |
| Top Score | Andrés Guardado (180) |
| Most Caps | Claudio Suarez (177) |
| Appearance | World Cup– first in 1930) CONCACAF Gold Cups – 8 times CONCACAF Championships- 3 times Copa América– 1993 to 2016 (Runner-up twice in 1993 and 2001) Central American and Caribbean Games- 2 Medals Olympics – 2012 Men’s Olympics Football tournament |
The Historic 2026 FIFA World Cup Campaign
The Mexico national football team is making history by co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada. This landmark tournament makes Mexico the very first nation in football history to host three separate World Cups, following their memorable tournaments in 1970 and 1986.
Playing their group stage matches at the iconic Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium), El Tri has enjoyed immense support from home fans. Under the tactical guidance of head coach Javier Aguirre, Mexico has delivered an outstanding performance in the group stage.
Following consecutive victories against South Africa (2-0) and South Korea (1-0), the team officially became the first country to clinch a spot in the tournament’s Round of 32 knockout phase.
Current Football Squad
The 2026 squad selected by Javier Aguirre features a deliberate mix of generational experience and rising dual-national talent:
| No. | Player Name | Club | Apps | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||
| 1 | Raúl Rangel | Guadalajara | 16 | 0 |
| 12 | Carlos Acevedo | Santos Laguna | 7 | 0 |
| 13 | Guillermo Ochoa | AEL Limassol | 152 | 0 |
| Defenders | ||||
| 2 | Jorge Sánchez | PAOK | 60 | 3 |
| 3 | César Montes (vice-captain) | Lokomotiv Moscow | 68 | 4 |
| 4 | Edson Álvarez (captain) | Fenerbahçe | 100 | 7 |
| 5 | Johan Vásquez (third captain) | Genoa | 48 | 3 |
| 15 | Israel Reyes | América | 36 | 2 |
| 20 | Mateo Chávez | AZ Alkmaar | 10 | 0 |
| 23 | Jesús Gallardo | Toluca | 123 | 3 |
| Midfielders | ||||
| 6 | Érik Lira | Cruz Azul | 27 | 0 |
| 7 | Luis Romo | Guadalajara | 64 | 5 |
| 8 | Álvaro Fidalgo | Real Betis | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | Orbelín Pineda | AEK Athens | 93 | 12 |
| 18 | Obed Vargas | Atlético Madrid | 7 | 0 |
| 19 | Gilberto Mora | Tijuana | 9 | 0 |
| 24 | Luis Chávez | Dynamo Moscow | 46 | 5 |
| 25 | Roberto Alvarado | Guadalajara | 69 | 5 |
| 26 | Brian Gutiérrez | Guadalajara | 9 | 2 |
| Forwards | ||||
| 9 | Raúl Jiménez | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 126 | 46 |
| 10 | Alexis Vega | Toluca | 53 | 7 |
| 11 | Santiago Giménez | AC Milan | 48 | 6 |
| 14 | Armando González | Guadalajara | 8 | 1 |
| 16 | Julián Quiñones | Al-Qadsiah | 24 | 3 |
| 21 | César Huerta | Anderlecht | 27 | 3 |
| 22 | Guillermo Martínez | Pumas UNAM | 12 | 3 |
The Rise of Young Talent in Mexico National Football Team
Head coach Javier Aguirre has also shown deep trust in the youth system. The roster features 17-year-old phenom Gilberto Mora from Club Tijuana, making him the youngest Mexican player ever selected for a World Cup squad. Alongside established European stars like striker Santiago Giménez, the team boasts a dynamic attacking front capable of challenging the world’s best defensive lines.
With early qualification to the knockout rounds secured, the Mexico national football team is heavily focused on breaking their historic “quinto partido” (fifth game) curse and reaching the deepest stages of the tournament on home soil.
