Mexico’s World Cup Journey: A Trip Down Memory Lane with a Challenging Path to the Coveted Quinto Partido

In Mexico, soccer evokes a deep sense of nostalgia. While fans eagerly anticipate new matches, they often reminisce about legendary players and memorable moments from the past.

As the World Cup draw approaches, memories will flood back, especially the opening against South Africa, reminiscent of 2010 when Bafana Bafana hosted, and the subsequent group match against South Korea, echoing 2018.

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The pivotal question is whether Mexico can recreate the glory of their past, making it consistently past the group stage.

The Try Although they haven’t reached the quarter-finals recently, they’ve become a fixture at the World Cup, progressing to the round of 16 at every tournament from 1994 until the disappointing 2022. With the tournament expanding and some matches hosted at home, Mexico is determined to secure that third party—and aim for more.

But will this draw allow them to achieve that?

While many past matches remain vivid in memory, only true fans might recall that 1995 Confederations Cup clash against Denmark, a favorite from UEFA playoffs. Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, and the Republic of Ireland are all contenders for UEFA’s Group A, with a playoff later in March determining who advances. Reliving moments like Siphiwe Tshabalala’s goal versus Rafa Marquez’s equalizer in 2010, or the joy of defeating South Korea in 2018 after the initial shock against Germany, is something fans cherish.

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Nevertheless, the focus now is on the current scenario.

This past summer painted a hopeful picture for Mexico. After clinching the Gold Cup and their first Nations League trophy in March, they reaffirmed their status as CONCACAF’s top team. Their latest triumph came from a comeback win over the United States in the Gold Cup final, but a concerning trend emerged as Javier Aguirre’s squad failed to secure victory in any of six friendlies this fall—raising alarm as they approach 2026.

This draw does little to ease concerns, as Mexico may face a challenging route compared to the other two host nations, with some third-placed teams now advancing in this expanded World Cup format.

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Despite a penalty for utilizing an ineligible player, South Africa emerged on top of their World Cup qualifying group that featured Nigeria and Benin. The advantage in playing ‘away’ qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe benefited them considerably. Their defense, led by the center-back duo of Siyabonga Ngezana and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, could pose challenges to a Mexican offense that has struggled, relying heavily on teenager Gilberto Mora for creativity.

In 2018, Mexico suffered a 3-0 loss to Sweden, despite late goals from Kim Yong-kwon and Son Heung-min, yet they still advanced. This created a lasting camaraderie between the Korean and Mexican teams. The positive vibe lingered when Son joined LAFC this summer, a club cherished by many Mexican fans.

However, heading into this tournament, there are uncertainties surrounding right-back Aguirre. The Try Fans may not be as excited to see Son this time around as they were eight years ago. Mexico faces the daunting task of defending against swift wingers, and they’ll need to confront this reality in Guadalajara.

Regardless of whether Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, or the Republic of Ireland progress through UEFA playoffs, the team they face will feature talent from Europe’s top leagues.

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Navigating this path is challenging, even with a World Cup format that makes identifying a true ‘group of death’ more difficult.

Yet, there are also many positives to consider. The Try The center-back pairing of Johan Vazquez and Cesar Montes should effectively manage the South African team, with Edson Alvarez leading the charge offensively. Mora showcases generational talent and consistently rises to the occasion. And even though their performance has waned, strikers Raul Jimenez and Santi Jimenez remain capable of producing back-to-back goals, giving Mexico formidable options up front.

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Mexico has a distinct opportunity ahead that could transition discussions from past glories to what this current generation can achieve, securing their legacy in the nation’s history for years to come. Yet, they left Friday’s draw realizing the journey may not be as straightforward as anticipated.