Mexico Faces Portugal & Belgium Amidst Injury Crisis Ahead of 2026 World Cup

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO — A dozen injured players would challenge any national team coach, but Mexico’s Javier Aguirre is choosing to focus on the players at his disposal as El Tri prepares for a pair of crucial friendly matches ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With a significant number of absentees – including six players who contributed to Mexico’s triumphs in the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup – the Mexican squad trained Thursday for the fourth consecutive day in preparation for Saturday’s match against Portugal and a subsequent encounter with Belgium three days later.

The match against Portugal marks the highly anticipated reopening of the iconic Estadio Azteca, which has been undergoing renovations since May 2024 to prepare for hosting its third FIFA World Cup. The game against Belgium will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago.

“Half of the team that won two titles with which we managed to build a family and a commitment and lifted a title, are not here today,” Aguirre said in a press conference. “It’s not even close to an excuse because other Mexicans are emerging in the same position and they will try.”

Among those sidelined are forward Santiago Giménez, who plays for AC Milan, and team captain and midfielder Edson Álvarez, along with midfielders Luis Chávez and César Huerta, and defender Rodrigo Huescas, all currently playing in European leagues. The absences present a challenge for Aguirre as he fine-tunes his squad ahead of the expanded 48-team World Cup.

“It’s true that of these 12 injured players, two or three are definitely ruled out not by me, but by the medical issue, but there could be good news from the others,” Aguirre added optimistically. “Are there absences? Yes, there are, we will miss them, that’s true, but we cannot depend on anyone. We haven’t done so until now. If Juan is not there, Pedro will come.”

Goalkeeper Luis Malagón and midfielder Marcel Ruiz have also suffered recent injuries that will keep them out of the World Cup, where Mexico will debut on June 11 against South Africa. The injury to Malagón has opened the door for a return for veteran 40-year-old Guillermo Ochoa, who has been called up to the team for the first time since the Gold Cup, where he was an unused substitute.

“‘Memo’ is a goalkeeper who is active, who is competing and is a player who helps us a lot inside and outside the field,” Aguirre said. “He is a reference for Mexican soccer, he is active, he is well, he is working and I want to see him.”

These upcoming matches will also give the coach his first opportunity to evaluate midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo, who recently completed his naturalization process in February. Fidalgo trained with the team this week for the first time.

“Álvaro, good, very adapted because he knows a lot of people after competing against them, jokes with people, is like one more as he should be, without complexes, wanting the ball, training very well, very natural,” the coach said. Fidalgo, 28, spent five years with América, winning a league title three times before moving to Spain in February to join Betis.

Aguirre’s approach underscores a pragmatic philosophy as he navigates the challenges of international preparation. With a significant number of key players unavailable, the focus shifts to evaluating the depth of the squad and identifying players who can step up and contribute to Mexico’s campaign at the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The upcoming friendlies against Portugal and Belgium will be critical in assessing these options and solidifying the team’s tactical approach.

Mexico will face Portugal at the Estadio Azteca on March 29th, and then travel to Chicago to play Belgium on April 1st. These matches represent a crucial step in the preparation process for the World Cup, offering valuable opportunities for assessment and refinement as Aguirre builds his squad for the tournament.