Mexico’s 2026 World Cup campaign has come to an end the first time they dropped points in the tournament.
Javier Aguirre’s side became one of only three teams alongside France and Argentina to win all three group matches without conceding a single goal. A perfect record that set the tone for what followed at the Azteca.
Mexico beat South Africa, Czech Republic and South Korea in Group A without ever truly being stretched, and the confidence that clean-sheet run generated has defined their entire tournament identity.
Their victory over Ecuador in the round of 32 extended their unbeaten run at the Azteca to 10 World Cup matches – a fortress record that underlines the psychological advantage of playing on home soil. Mexico had not won a World Cup knockout match since 1986, when they last hosted the tournament. That 40-year wait ended emphatically, with Quinones and Jimenez combining to dismantle Ecuador before half-time.
Though it ended in heartbreaking fashion against England. The Three Lions fell to 10 men early in the second half but survived El Tri’s avalanche to secure a spot in the quarter finals.
Quinones led the side’s scoring charts with four goals – a return that makes him one of the standout individual performers of the entire competition. Jimenez, meanwhile, contributed the physical hold-up play and ruthless finishing that gave this Mexico side a genuinely clinical edge.
Mexico World Cup 2026 route to the final
Mexico’s campaign may have come to an end, but they certainly did their fans proud with their performances.
El Tri were the better side against England apart from a two-minute stretch late in the first half that saw Jude Bellingham score a lightning-quick brace. It was all England needed to secure the win, with Jimenez’s penalty goal serving as nothing but consolation in the end.
READ MORE: Get the latest Mexico World Cup 2026 outright odds here
Mexico World Cup stats
Mexico key players for World Cup 2026
Mexico top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Raul Jimenez
- Key stat: Raul Jimenez scored nine times in 14 Mexico caps in 2025, including a vital equalising goal in the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final vs USA.
Although turned 35 before the tournament began, Raul Jimenez is clearly Mexico’s biggest goal threat. A consistent goal-getter throughout his career, the Wolverhampton Wanderers forward enjoyed his most prolific year for his nation so far in 2025. He has the kind of physical profile and instinctual movement that will make South Africa and South Korea defenders sweat in the Mexican heat this summer.
He netted three goals in four games, including one each in both their knockout stage games, against Ecuador and England.
Mexico card magnets & top tacklers: Cesar Montes
- Key stat: Defender Cesar Montes has been booked in seven of his last 14 Mexico appearances.
Lokomotiv Moscow defender Cesar Montes has been a mainstay of the Mexico national team since making his debut in 2017. The 28 year old was booked twice in his three CONCACAF Nations League matches and has picked up three cards in the six friendlies Mexico have played in the latter stages of 2025. He’s won an average of 1.6 tackles per 90 minutes for Lokomotiv in the Russian Premier League this season and picked up four bookings.
Mexico rising star: Gilberto Mora
Key stat: Gilberto Mora scored three goals and assisted two in five matches at the U20 World Cup in 2025.
With five caps already before his 18th birthday, Gilberto Mora is seen as the next great hope for El Tri. A quick and highly technical player, Mora is an attacking midfielder with fantastic vision who has already racked up seven first-team goals in 44 appearances for Tijuana in Liga MX. He is Mexico’s youngest-ever debutant and could be set to announce himself to the wider footballing world this summer.
Mora made history by becoming the sixth-youngest player at a World Cup with his 65th-minute substitute appearance at the age of just 17 years and 240 days old. He’s also now the youngest ever player to represent Mexico at a World Cup.
Unfortunately for him, it was his mistake that led to England getting a two-goal cushion after Elliot Anderson took the ball from him.
STAND-OUT STAT: Mexico have suffered more defeats in World Cup matches than any other nation having lost 28 of their 60 games.
Mexico set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Raul Jimenez
- Free kicks: Luis Chavez, Hirving Lozano
- Corners: Luis Chavez, Hirving Lozano
Mexico tactical analysis and formation
Team stats (average per game from last four matches):
- Corners: 2.5
- Shots on target: 3.5
- Shots on target conceded: 4.5
- Offsides: 0.5
Most often playing with a settled back four and a lone striker, likely to be Raul Jimenez, Mexico’s midfield configuration changes regularly. Captain Edson Alvarez is occasionally used at the base of a midfield three, but they often use two pivot midfielders and a central attacking midfielder.
The likes of Erik Lira and Erick Sanchez will hope to force their way into this eleven, while Alexis Vega is another attacking option for Javier Aguirre if Hirving Lozano or Roberto Alvarado are struggling for fitness or form.
Get the latest Mexico World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here
Mexico manager analysis
Javier Aguirre was one of the most experienced head coaches at this summer’s World Cup. The 67 year old has been in management since 1995 and is currently in his third spell in charge of his own national side having led them at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.
A pragmatist first and foremost, Aguirre’s teams are always compact and hard-working – though they did display some nice football under him as well. That made Mexico difficult to beat at World Cup and his side displayed a winning mentality in 2025 by lifting both the CONCACAF Nations League and the Gold Cup.
The stats below are from his current spell in charge of the team.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javier Aguirre | Mexico | 36 | 22 | 8 | 6 | 54 | 26 | 61.1% |
Mexico World Cup FAQs
Have Mexico ever won the World Cup?
No, Mexico have never won the World Cup. They have twice reached the Quarter-final stage, in 1970 and 1986 when they were hosts on both occasions. Could history repeat itself this summer?
Where did Mexico finish in the last World Cup?
Mexico can count themselves slightly unfortunate to have been knocked out in the group stages at the last World Cup. El Tri picked up four points but finished behind Poland on goal difference after a late consolation goal from Saudi Arabia in their final group game.
Who will be Mexico captain at the World Cup?
Edson Alvarez, currently on loan at Fenerbahce from West Ham United, is the current Mexico captain. The 28 year old defensive midfielder has racked up 95 caps for his country since making his debut in 2017.
Who is Mexico’s all-time top goalscorer at World Cups?
Javier Hernandez, with 52 goals, is Mexico’s all-time top goalscorer in all matches. His namesake Luis Hernandez is the nation’s highest-scoring player in World Cups however with four – all four coming at the 1998 World Cup in France.
Read more:
