By
Mexican National Team head coach Javier Aguirre formally kicked off preparations for the 2026 World Cup by calling up the first 12 players to the national training camp. This early call-up aims to establish a solid foundation of domestic league players, ensuring they are in peak physical condition before the final roster is submitted.
The current roster consists of goalkeepers Raúl Rangel and Carlos Acevedo; defenders Israel Reyes and Jesús Gallardo; midfielders Luis Romo, Erik Lira, Brian Gutiérrez, Gilberto Mora, and Roberto Alvarado; and forwards Alexis Vega, Guillermo Martínez, and Armando González. The Chivas de Guadalajara team stands out as the club with the largest contribution to the group, with five players called up.
The squad features a mix of young talents and veterans with international experience. Seventeen-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora has generated high expectations following his performances in Liga MX (the Mexican top-flight soccer league) and the U-20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Jesús Gallardo is set to compete in his third consecutive World Cup, while Luis Romo, Alexis Vega, and Roberto Alvarado will compete in their second World Cup.
Raúl “Tala” Rangel is the leading candidate for the starting goalkeeper spot during the tournament. He has received consistent support from the coaching staff and has established himself as the go-to choice in the position over the past year of the national team’s activity.
FIFA regulations set June 1 as the deadline for the 48 participating teams to submit their official 26-player rosters. Although the remaining 14 spots are typically filled by players competing in European leagues, the national team’s management has not ruled out including other players from the Mexican league on the final roster.
Translated and edited by Bruce Bernhart
