Mexico preview and roster

Mexico in the end qualified for the fourth edition of the Concacaf Nations League final four comfortably, though it took a 4-0 win over an obdurate Honduras in the Azteca to overcome a 2-0 deficit from the first leg.

Mexico have never won the Nations League, losing in the final in the first and third editions to the USA and being knocked out the semi-finals of the

What to expect

Manager Javier Aguirre has left out veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, so often the talisman of Mexican teams, as well as Club América’s evergreen forward Henry Martín who scores relentlessly for his club but not so prolifically on the international stage.

Mexico open against Canada on March 20 who are a team that match them for talent but have failed to live up to their promise. The winners will meet either USA or Panama in the final or the third-placed play-off at the SoFi Stadium on March 23.

The 39-year-old Ochoa has played 151 times for the Mexican team in an international career spanning 20 years – he has often been the bedrock of his team’s win, inspiring and cajoling his defense. Club América’s 28-year-old Luis Malagón has the opportunity to cement his starting place, no youngster himself, he has played just seven times for the national team since making his senior debut in 2023.

Mexico’s biggest failing of recent seasons has been a failure to score more goals to match their often dominant passages of possession. Turning possession into goals looks like being the biggest problem with Aguirre not helped by the absence of San Diego FC forward Hirving ‘Lucky’ Lozano who is still recovering from a pre-season injury.

If Aguirre shows faith and confidence in Santiago Giménez (AC Milan), then his problems could be solved.

Aguirre has a coterie of overseas strikers to select from: Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadisiya), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Santiago Giménez (AC Milan), and César Huerta (Anderlecht) to step up.

West Ham’s Edson Álvarez will be at the heart of Mexico’s midfield which is an area where they are not short of talent with Luis Romo (Chivas), Luis Chávez (Dinamo Moscow), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), and Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens) giving Aguirre plenty of options.

Players to watch

Raúl Jiménez (Fulham) and Santiago Giménez (AC Milan) have the ability and European big league pedigree to be the difference in this tournament. Both need to fulfil their promise at national team level if Mexico are to get through a difficult semi-final. Giménez, who was born in Argentina, has yet to receive the full support of Mexico’s partisan fan base, and in the past Mexican managers have been reluctant to use him from the start.

West Ham’s Edson Álvarez will be at the heart of Mexico’s midfield which is an area where they are not short of talent, but his work rate, no-compromise defence and ability to play at pace will be crucial in protecting his newly marshalled backline with Luis Malagón in goal, and releasing two of the best and in-form strikers in the competition.

The Manager

Javier Aguirre cut his teeth as a player with spells at Club America, and their fiercest rivals, Chivas of Guadalajara, as well as a couple of years in Spain and a season with the famed Los Angeles Aztecs in the old North American Soccer League (NASL).He also represented his country 59 times, including during the World Cup in 1986 played in his home country and was well known for his tactical awareness on the field.

As a manager he has traveled the globe coaching the national teams of Japan, Egypt, and now is now in his third term with the Tricolor.

His best result with Mexico was in July 2001, when he led at the 2001 Copa America in Colombia. They defeated Brazil, Chile and Uruguay before losing to the hosts by a goal in the final.  A year later at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, his side won their group at Italy’s  expense before unexpectedly losing 2–0 to the US in the Round of 16.

Squad