Mexico have gone seven consecutive World Cups without making it out of the round of 16. A reliable team in the group stage, that hasn’t carried over to the knockout rounds. This generation of players is very good and have experience (Guardado, Ochoa, Raul Jimenez, Edson, Tecate, Lozano) but there are doubts regarding Tata Martino. So many that it remains to be seen if he’ll be the coach when the tournament starts. Having said that, Mexico have to break their round of 16 curse someday.
Mexico extended their streak of appearing at every World Cup finals since 1994 by securing CONCACAF qualification as runners-up to Canada on goal difference in the final round.
El Tri has a roster that relies on individuals who feature in Europe and North America. Of those, Wolves striker Raul Jimenez and Houston Dynamo veteran Hector Herrera will both be heavily called upon to propel the World Cup bid. The loss of Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona to injury is, though, a significant blow.
Mexico don’t score or concede many goals — averaging just over one goal a game scored in their qualification bid — and they will hope that compact gameplan, devised by wily former Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, can prove sufficient to stifle group opponents.
- Current FIFA world ranking: No. 13 (November, 2022)
- Regional ranking: 1st (CONCACAF)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances (last): 16 (Brazil 2018)
- How qualified: (CONCACAF qualifying runners-up: 7W-2L-4D
- Coach: Gerardo Martino (Argentina) since January, 2019
- Key players: Raul Jimenez (Wolves / England), Hector Herrera (Houston Dynamo / USA), Hirving Lozano (Napoli / Italy)
World Cup Group C fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Tues, Nov. 22 | Argentina vs. S. Arabia | 5 a.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Tues, Nov. 22 | Mexico vs. Poland | 11 a.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Poland vs. S. Arabia | 8 a.m. | Education City Stadium |
| Sat, Nov. 26 | Argentina vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | Poland vs. Argentina | 2 p.m. | Stadium 974 |
| Wed, Nov. 30 | S. Arabia vs. Mexico | 2 p.m. | Lusail Stadium |
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