Mexico releases partial World Cup roster including eight players in contention for 2030 cycle

The final roster for the 2026 World Cup will be announced on June 1, after their first friendly of the upcoming window against Australia on May 29, but before their final friendly against Serbia on June 4.

Goalkeeper Óscar García of León, defenders Luis Rey of Puebla, Eduardo Águila of Atlético San Luis, Jesús Gómez of Tijuana, Denzell García of FC Juárez, midfielders Iker Fimbres of C.F. Monterrey and Jairo Torres of FC Juárez, along with forward Kevin Castañeda of Tijuana, are the eight players in contention for the next cycle.

All of these players will stick around in training for five and a half weeks.

As for the remainder of the roster, which will participate in this World Cup, goalkeepers Raúl Rangel of C.D. Guadalajara and Carlos Acevedo of Santos Laguna will both fight for minutes between the sticks.

In defense, Israel Reyes of Club América and Jesús Gallardo of Toluca have both been called up. While in midfield, Luis Romo of C.D. Guadalajara, Érik Lira of Cruz Azul, Érick Gutiérrez of C.D. Guadalajara, Gilberto Mora of Tijuana, and Roberto Alvarado of C.D. Guadalajara were all picked.

Hoping to lead the line will be Alexis Vega of Toluca, Guillermo Martínez of UNAM, and Armando González of C.D. Guadalajara.

In an extra twist to this already unusual approach to a World Cup, it has been revealed via The Athletic that the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) was supposedly planning to release this list prior to last weekend. A spokesperson for the FMF also told the outlet that the remaining 14 players who will make up the final World Cup roster all ply their trades outside of Liga MX.

Mexico will enter the World Cup competing to make their way out of Group A against Czechia, South Korea, and South Africa. El Tri will open the tournament on June 11 against the 2010 host nation, South Africa, before taking on South Korea a week later at Estadio Akron in Zapopan.

They will conclude the group stage against Czechia on June 24, back in Mexico City.

While Mexico failed to make it out of the group stage four years ago in Qatar, they had reached the Round of 16 in each of the previous seven tournaments. They have twice reached as far as the quarter-finals.