It was not one hour, nor two, much less three, but almost 72 hours that the coach of the Mexican national team, Javier Aguirre, was late in announcing the Mexico national team’s pre-list with 12 players who will have to report to the concentration on May 6.
A relationship that, as time went by, would have become more complicated as it was integrated by the whole series of questions that were generated at the last minute, especially with the issues of Marcel Ruiz and Gilberto Mora, in their physical recovery from the injuries that afflicted them in recent months.
According to a very well-informed source within the Mexican national team, who assured The Opinionunder the condition of anonymity, that the “Vasco” had so many complications that on more than five occasions he rejected several names that were suggested to him to be called up for the next World Cup.
Before announcing the 12 names, this Tuesday he also discarded seven drafts before allowing the names of the summoned players to be announced in the morning and who will work at the High Performance Center from May 6 to June 1, when the final list with the 14 players who play outside of Mexico will be announced.
In the circles close to the Mexican team, the presence of Guillermo “Memote” Martínez was also surprising, since with 45 minutes of action in seven calls to the Tricolor under the command of “Vasco” Aguirre he made the jump to the final list for the World Cup.
It is assured that Martínez’s presence is due to foreseeable tactical situations in the face of a Mexican contingency in a match where he needs to throw all the fuel on the grill in search of the result and where the “Memote” from above can fight with the rivals.
The twelve summoned are: Goalkeepers: Raúl “Tala” Rangel (Chivas) and Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna); Defenses: Israel Reyes (America), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Erick Lira (Cruz Azul), Luis Romo (Chivas); Midfielders: Gilberto Mora (Xolos Tijuana), Brian Gutierrez and Alexis Vega (Toluca); Fronts: Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Armando González (Chivas).
On the list there were doubts about whether to take Erick Sánchez from América or Brian Gutiérrez from Chivas and they ended up leaning towards the Mexican-American from Rebaño Sagrado or bringing Marcel Ruiz or Carlos Rodríguez, but in the end the reports from Russia, where apparently Luis Chávez has already gotten into rhythm and could be another of those covered by his left-footed profile and the change of pace he has.
These players are already almost certain for the World Cup, since Aguirre promised the team owners that the elements he called up for the national team and who will not participate in the group stage will have their place guaranteed in the World Cup tournament, barring any unexpected injury.
The sparring partners
Other players who will serve as sparring partners in the Mexican national team’s training sessions were also called up and unless a huge chick comes out or impresses Javier Aguirre, he could be included in the final list; Meanwhile, they will only serve to complete the list that will face the Ghana team in Puebla on May 22 in the first of the last three preparation games of the Mexican team.
These players are: Óscar García – Goalkeeper (León), Luis Rey – Defense (Puebla), Eduardo Águila – Defense (San Luis), Jesús Gómez – Defense (Tijuana), Denzell García – Defense (FC Juárez), Iker Fimbres – Middle – (Rayados), Jairo Torres – Middle (FC Juárez) and Kevin Castañeda – Middle (Tijuana).
The 15 of the “Foreign Legion”
The 15 players of the “Foreign Legion” are: Goalkeeper: Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol); Defenders: Julián Araujo (Celtic), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK Salonika FC), (Mateo Chávez (AZ Alkmaar), César Montes (Lokomotiv), Johan Vázquez (Genoa); Midfielders: Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe), Álvaro Fidalgo (Betis), Obed Vargas (Atlético de Madrid), Luis Chávez (Dinamo), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Atenas), Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadisiya), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Santiago Giménez (AC Milan), Germán Berterame (Inter Miami CF).
THE MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM FROM GUADALAJARA? 🤩
The guest list for the Mexican National Team has just been made official and Chivas takes 5 of its players.
Was any missing? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/QEUC4GIM68
— RECORD DIARY (@record_mexico) April 28, 2026
In this list there is one player left over and in the hypothetical case, the doubt so far lies in Santiago Giménez and Germán Berterame, even though the former Rayados forward performs other types of functions on the field of play.
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