Mexico national team – Mexico is another nation from Central America (CONCACAF) to represent in the twenty-second edition of the FIFA World Cup. Mexico’s men’s national team appeared in the first FIFA World Cup.
Previously, Mexico participated in World Cup sixteen times and will turn seventeen in the Qatar World Cup. Let’s read the history, World Cup preparation, FIFA performances, current squad, controversy, etc.
Brief History of Mexico Football
Mexican people were introduced to football by Spanish and England immigrants in the early 20th century. Mexico won its first international match against Guatemala in January 1923. It played a couple of friendly matches with Guatemala that year.
After four years, Mexico formed its official governing body Mexican Football Federation to participate in the Summer Olympics next year. It was their first international tournament, and the Mexican team reached the round of 16 and lost to Spain’s pre-quarterfinals.
In 1930, when FIFA organized the first biggest global soccer event, Mexico qualified for CONCACAF along with the USA. But, Mexico exited from group stages and did not progress to the next round. Then, it did not return to the tournament until the 1950 World Cup.
Mexico History at CONCACAF Gold Cup
In 1963, the North, Central, and Caribbean football confederation (CONCACAF) established a CONCACAF championship which later turned into CONCACAF Gold Cup. El Salvador hosted the tournament, and Mexico also was a participant, but it was out from the group stage. Hence, Costa Rica won the championship. After two years, Mexico lifted the tournament’s trophy in its second edition.
Mexico is the most successful team and has won eleven titles to date. In the recent 2021 edition, Mexico lost the finals with the USA. Since then, it has appeared in the competition 24 times as of 2022. It has also participated as an invitee team in Copa América (South American football Championship).
Mexico at the FIFA World Cup History
Mexico scored poorly in the debut World Cup and did not qualify for the next one. Likewise, it withdrew from the French tournament in 1938.
Then, after almost twelve years, Mexico returned to the soccer World Cup in 1950. However, it took 36 years for them to host and reach the tournament’s quarter-finals. Similarly, it hosted the football World Cup again in 1986 and reached the quarter-finals. However, it did not appear in the 1990 World Cup because FIFA banned Mexico for two years (1988-1990).
Aparta tu lugar para la inauguración de la máxima fiesta del fútbol. 🏆 Participa con @Banorte_mx para ganar un viaje doble. 🛫🇶🇦
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) August 27, 2022
Conoce cómo 👉🏼 https://t.co/8jL5uYAp2M
*Aplican restricciones.#MiSelecciónBanorte pic.twitter.com/F3uVN3bNWR
Mexico consecutively out from the round of 16/pre-quarterfinals of the tournament. After releasing a temporary ban, Mexico qualified for the next tournament season in 1994. Since then, it has been participating consecutively as of 2022.
Mexico Football Controversy| Cachirules scandal
In 1988, Mexico breached FIFA law. It used three players who were overaged for the CONCACAF U-20 Championship for World U-20 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. The Mexican team needed to finish first or second place in the CONCACAF U-20 championship to select the 1989 U-20 FIFA World Championship held in Saudi Arabia.
Mexico’s rival nation United States and host Guatemala, protested in CONCACAF, and as a result, FIFA and CONCACAF banned Mexico. After that, FIFA banned the Mexican governing body FEMEXFUT for youth and senior teams from all international matches for two years, from 1988 to 1990. Mexican football scandal is also called the Cachirules scandal.
During the investigation, Mexico found FIFA’s rule breaching after two wins against Guyana and Guatemala in the tournament. After two years, Mexico’s games improved than past.
Mexico Qatar World Cup 2022 Squad| Preparation
Mexico is one of the selected nations out of 32 countries from all over the globe for the biggest soccer fair. It will place in Group C; it will face Saudi Arabia, Poland, and Argentina in group matches. It will play the first against Poland on 22 November 2022 at 974 Stadium.
In 2019, FEMEXUFUT hired Argentine footballer Gerardo Martino as their manager. Since then, Martino has been leading the team. He is one of the experienced coaches who previously managed several clubs and countries’ national football teams.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022 Canada National Team|History
He has a 63-percentile possibility to win matches. His major achievements are; the CONCACAF Gold Cup winner in 2019, the CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up in 2021, and FIFA World Cup 2022 qualification finals.
Related: Meet FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Team; Awards, Qatari Football History
Likewise, Andrés Guardado is the current team captain who plays professional soccer at Spanish club Real Betis. Mexican federation is yet to announce its national team, but here are the potential players who will represent the country in Qatar World Cup.
| Position | Players Name |
| GK | Carlos Acevedo |
|---|---|
| GK | Luis Malagón |
| DF | Jesús Gallardo |
| DF | César Montes |
| DF | Jesús Alberto Angulo |
| DF | Luis Reyes |
| DF | Kevin Álvarez |
| DF | Israel Reyes |
| DF | Emilio Lara |
| MF | Rodolfo Pizarro |
| MF | Uriel Antuna |
| MF | Carlos Rodríguez |
| MF | Roberto Alvarado |
| MF | Luis Romo |
| MF | Fernando Beltrán |
| MF | Érick Sánchez |
| MF | Luis Chávez |
| FW | Alexis Vega |
| FW | Ángel Zaldívar |
| FW | Eduardo Aguirre |
