5 Things to know about Mexico ahead of WC clash with Bafana
by Thato Bosoga · KickOffWith Bafana Bafana opening the 2026 FIFA World Cup against co-hosts Mexico, Kickoff looks at the five interesting facts about El Tri.
Survivors from 2010 World Cup
Mexico has two members, who were there during the 2010 World Cup, in the same group as Bafana, goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, 40, will be appearing (not playing) at his sixth World Cup, a feat only shared with a few players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manager Javier Aguirre was in the dugout when El Tri played to a 1-1 draw in the opening game of the 2010 World Cup but he has not been their coach since, as he departed after the tournament and was only reappointed in July 2024.
Ranking history
Mexico are currently ranked 15th in the FIFA rankings, which would make them favorites against Bafana Bafana. However, the North American country has had turbulence in the past, as in 2015 they were ranked 40th at some stage, their lowest ever ranking.
El Tri have climbed as high as fourth in the FIFA rankings on multiple occasions between 1998 and 2006 but experienced a decline leading up to the 2010 World Cup.
World Cup record
Mexico have reached the round of 16 (getting out of the group in a previous 32-team tournament) for seven consecutive tournaments since 1994 but they were eliminated at the same stage in all those occasions.
However, El Tri's best finish at the World Cup is sixth, both in the 1970 and 1986 editions, as hosts.
Record as hosts
Although it was a long time ago since they hosted in both 1970 and 1986 World Cups, Mexico's home crowd advantage was a driving force for an undefeated group stage campaign in 1970 before they were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Italy.
Even in the 1986 as hosts, El Tri emerged unbeaten in their group before they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by West Germany.
What to expect from current squad
Mexico has similarities with Bafana, in that most of their players are playing in the local league, the Liga MX, which has attractive salary packages and players don't necessarily have the desperate need to move abroad.
But some of the players selected playing abroad are world class, with their hopes mainly resting on star forwards Santiago Gimenez of AC Milan and Fulham's Raul Jimenez and the two can be unleashed at once by Aguirre.
The home crowd will also be looking for magic from Chivas breakout star (forward) Armando "La Hormiga" Gonzalez, who scored 24 goals in all competitions, setting the record as the most goals scored by a player aged 23 or Under in the club's history.