{"id":14001,"date":"2026-06-22T18:39:49","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T22:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/us\/?post_type=news&p=14001"},"modified":"2026-06-22T18:39:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T22:39:50","slug":"ochoa-start-mexico-czech-republic-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/us\/news\/world-cup\/ochoa-start-mexico-czech-republic-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Ochoa to start Mexico vs Czech Republic as Aguirre hands veteran goalkeeper his World Cup farewell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mexico<\/a> legend Guillermo Ochoa is set to start against Czech Republic<\/a> in what will be part of an emotional farewell for the veteran goalkeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ESPN<\/a> reports what most of Mexico suspected was coming. “Memo Ochoa and Santi Gim\u00e9nez will start against Czech Republic,” John Sutcliffe revealed, lifting the lid on Javier Aguirre’s plans for the final Group A game of World Cup 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Mexico, it’s a rotation night. Qualification is already done, top spot is secured, and Aguirre can afford to look at his bench. For Ochoa, it’s the moment four years in the making \u2014 and, by his own admission, the last of its kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because after Qatar 2022, another World Cup was never the plan. Even Ochoa wasn’t sure he’d be here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Raul
Raul Jimenez (2nd from R) hugs goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa after scoring the team’s second goal in the second half of the World Cup opener against South Africa Credit: Newscom\/Alamy Live News<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From "let’s see what happens" to a sixth World Cup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“After the World Cup in Qatar, I thought to myself, ‘Let’s see what happens,'” he said a week before Mexico’s opener. “Then the chance to play in Italy’s Serie A came up and I thought, ‘I’m not that far off anymore; I’m very close to the next World Cup.’ That’s when my mind said, ‘I can make it, I feel good, I’m in good shape, let’s go for it.’ But this is going to be my last one. Now there’s no turning back.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n