Mexico have named veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in their 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him the first Mexican player to be selected for six World Cup tournaments.
Head coach Javier Aguirre announced his squad on Sunday, a day after El Tri secured a 1-0 victory over Australia in a World Cup warm-up match, as the co-host nation prepares for the biggest tournament in its football history.
The inclusion of 40-year-old Ochoa is the headline decision in Aguirre's squad. The experienced goalkeeper, who made his World Cup debut in 2006, will now participate in a record sixth global finals after also being part of Mexico's squads in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is teenage sensation Gilberto Mora, who is set to become the youngest Mexican player ever to feature at a World Cup. The highly rated midfielder is just 17 years old and represents the future of Mexican football.
Aguirre, who is preparing for his third World Cup as Mexico coach after leading the team at the 2002 and 2010 editions, has blended youth with experience in a squad tasked with delivering a memorable campaign on home soil.
Mexico's best World Cup performances came when they hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986, reaching the quarter-finals on both occasions. Aguirre will be aiming to match or better that achievement when the competition kicks off next year.
The squad retains a strong core from the team that played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with 12 players from that campaign earning selection once again.
Domestic giants Chivas are the most heavily represented club in the squad, contributing seven players despite operating exclusively with Mexican footballers.
As one of the three co-hosts alongside the United States and Canada, Mexico will enter the tournament carrying heightened expectations, with Aguirre hoping the experience of veterans such as Ochoa and the emergence of talents like Mora can inspire a deep run in front of home supporters.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo, Guillermo Ochoa, Raul Rangel.
Defenders: Edson Alvarez, Mateo Chavez, Jesus Gallardo, Cesar Montes, Israel Reyes, Jorge Sanchez, Johan Vasquez.
Midfielders: Luis Chavez, Alvaro Fidalgo, Brian Gutierrez, Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora, Luis Romo, Orbelin Pineda, Obed Vargas.
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Gimenez, Armando Gonzalez, Cesar Huerta, Raul Jimenez, Guillermo Martinez, Julian Quinones, Alexis Vega.