{"id":396176,"date":"2026-07-13T01:50:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/396176\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T01:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T01:50:41","slug":"mexico-wins-back-fans-still-faces-familiar-world-cup-wall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/396176\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico wins back fans, still faces familiar World Cup wall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MEXICO CITY\u00a0\u2014\u00a0After what may have been the most important game in the Mexican national team\u2019s World Cup<\/a> history, coach Javier Aguirre hugged each of his 26 players.<\/p>\n

The embraces weren\u2019t to celebrate a victory. They were hugs of gratitude, encouragement and, above all, resignation.<\/p>\n

Minutes earlier, the players paraded around Azteca Stadium \u2014 traditionally an impenetrable fortress \u2014 to applaud El Tri fans with tears in their eyes. Mexico had just lost 3-2 to England<\/a>, extinguishing the hope that it could parlay its World Cup co-host role into the deepest tournament run in the country\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

The goal was to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1986 and, above all, to show the world that Mexican soccer finally had taken the leap that had been demanded for so long \u2014 defeating a past world champion, England, that hadn\u2019t looked particularly dominant. But reality, once again, hit hard as the loss became Mexico\u2019s eighth defeat in the round of 16 since 1994.<\/p>\n

This time, Mexico had the support of its fans, playing on home soil. And it wasn\u2019t enough. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m satisfied with the work we\u2019ve done, but when you lose \u2014 and I\u2019ve lost a lot in my career \u2014 you never quite get over it,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cIt\u2019s very painful because dreaming gives us hope; losing this way hurts a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mexico <\/p>\n

Mexico fans show their support before their team faced England in a Round of 16 World Cup match at Azteca Stadium on July 5.<\/p>\n

(Richard Pelham \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

After weeks of celebrations following wins over South Africa, South Korea, Czechia and Ecuador, Mexico failed the test against England, ranked fourth in the world. El Tri dominated possession but could not convert it into goals, while the English were clinical, led by Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.<\/p>\n

For Aguirre, the loss reopened a familiar wound. In the 2002, Mexico lost 2-0 to a U.S. squad led by Landon Donovan in what many consider the most painful defeat in the country\u2019s World Cup history. This defeat to England very well could rival it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would have liked to win five games, to leave home with five victories. That hurts \u2014 it hurts a lot,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cA loss is a loss. Our opponent didn\u2019t make the same mistakes we did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judging Aguirre solely on the end of this World Cup run would be simplistic given what he inherited. Two years ago, he was asked to lead the struggling team for the third time. When he arrived, Mexico was ranked 17th in the world and had not won the Nations League. He leaves with Mexico ranked in the top 10 and as Nations League champion and two-time defending Gold Cup champion.<\/p>\n

This World Cup wasn\u2019t the disaster that Qatar was four years ago, when Mexico was eliminated in the group stage. This summer, Mexico secured its first knockout-round victory since 1986, advanced to a fifth World Cup match for the second time and swept three games during the group stage without conceding a goal \u2014 something no other Mexican team achieved.<\/p>\n

In 22 months at the helm \u2014 having taken over in 2024 following Jaime Lozano\u2019s failure at the Copa Am\u00e9rica, where Mexico failed to advance past the group stage \u2014 Aguirre achieved something that went beyond the scoreboard by uniting players previously accused of having too much ego and preferring not to sacrifice to help the team.<\/p>\n

At this World Cup, that squad gave its all \u2014 body and soul \u2014 and rebuilt a relationship with the fans that had seemed broken since the 2024 Copa Am\u00e9rica. Thousands of fans filled the \u00c1ngel de la Independencia, the Z\u00f3calo and other squares across the country, as well as watch parties in cities like Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe managed to restore the pride of being part of the national team \u2014 for the national anthem and for its people. It\u2019s a privilege to be here, and they know it,\u201d Aguirre said of his players. \u201cI think we\u2019ve returned to a Mexican identity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green jerseys were seen all over Mexico as people set aside their differences to cheer on El Tri.<\/p>\n

\u201cMexico was the best host of the three. It had the best atmosphere \u2014 it\u2019s a country that truly loves soccer,\u201d Mexico City native Santiago Mondrag\u00f3n said before the England match.<\/p>\n

Mexico had standout and inspired performances from Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora and Roberto Alvarado, but its lineup struggled to keep pace with English players trained at elite European clubs. <\/p>\n

Mora, just 17 years old and with tremendous potential, made a mistake on the play leading to England\u2019s second goal. Alvarado, who provided strong passes to Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez and was solid in defense throughout the tournament, lost track of Bellingham on the first goal. Ra\u00fal Rangel, who was outstanding against South Korea and who three years ago was playing for Tapat\u00edo in the Mexican expansion league, stepped too far forward on the penalty kick that sealed the match, minutes after an English player was sent off in the second half. Edson \u00c1lvarez, who did not have a good season with Turkey\u2019s Fenerbahce because of an injury, received little playing time and made a serious mistake marking Kane, which led to Gordon\u2019s breakaway on the play that resulted in the penalty kick.<\/p>\n

\"Mexico's <\/p>\n

Mexico\u2019s Ra\u00fal Jim\u00e9nez gets tangled with England\u2019s Ezri Konsa while going for the ball during a World Cup Round of 16 match at Azteca Stadium on July 5.<\/p>\n

(Francois Nel \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Following the loss, many in Mexico still are wondering why, despite having a one-man advantage for 36 minutes \u2014plus 11 minutes of stoppage time \u2014 the team was unable to tie England. Aguirre replaced Mora and goal-scorer Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones, bringing on an attacking lineup that focused on sending in crosses, which the English defense easily cleared.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s possible a few changes could have shifted the match in Mexico\u2019s favor, there were limits to how much the technical staff could get out of the roster.<\/p>\n

El Tri lacks sufficient depth to assemble a truly competitive 26-man roster, as players such as \u00c1lvarez and Santiago Gim\u00e9nez didn\u2019t arrive at their best form, and players such as Brian Guti\u00e9rrez weren\u2019t ready for the pressure of a tournament of this magnitude, in need of more time to develop.<\/p>\n

Mexico lacked game-changing players capable of breaking down tight defenses \u2014 the role Hirving Lozano played in 2018 or Giovani Dos Santos in 2014. The lack of creativity that showed against Saudi Arabia in 2022 flared up late against England. <\/p>\n

Thanks to Jim\u00e9nez and Qui\u00f1ones, the team did show firepower, scoring 10 goals in five matches, but it lacked depth to break down a well-organized English defense.<\/p>\n

The talent pool has been hindered by the Mexico club system.<\/p>\n

\"Mexico's <\/p>\n

Mexico\u2019s Juli\u00e1n Qui\u00f1ones is tossed in the air by teammates as they celebrate a Round of 32 World Cup win over Ecuador at Azteca Stadium on June 30.<\/p>\n

(Kevin C. Cox \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Liga MX owners maintain a narrow view of domestic soccer, prioritizing foreign signings over the development of local players and promotion and relegation remain abolished \u2014 removing competitive pressure that is the backbone of English leagues.<\/p>\n

Top Mexican players continue to be overvalued by their home clubs, which makes it difficult for European clubs to sign them when there are cheaper options with more impressive r\u00e9sum\u00e9s. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis was the opportunity; that\u2019s why it\u2019s frustrating, that\u2019s why it\u2019s sad,\u201d Mexican journalist Javier Alarc\u00f3n said of El Tri\u2019s World Cup exit. \u201cWith the Mexican federation and its owners, there isn\u2019t much hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rafael M\u00e1rquez, a former FC Barcelona star and one of the greatest players in Mexican national team history, is succeeding Aguirre after serving as one of his assistant coaches. M\u00e1rquez has formed a close bond with players, who tossed the 47-year-old former defender in the air after one of their World Cup wins, and is familiar with all the reasons Mexico continues to hit the same World Cup wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cRafa is a great guy, a great coach,\u201d said Aguirre, who noted that the team\u2019s average age has dropped and that more and more players are playing in Europe. \u201cHopefully he can do better than we were able to.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MEXICO CITY\u00a0\u2014\u00a0After what may have been the most important game in the Mexican national team\u2019s World Cup history,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":396177,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[25306,11392,159237,4794,8293,95597,153867,48,52,51,159234,47,50,49,63125,2457,137244,159236,127409,149614,159235],"class_list":["post-396176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-aguirre","tag-domingo","tag-estadio-ciudad","tag-final","tag-futbol","tag-grupo","tag-jugador","tag-la","tag-la-headlines","tag-la-news","tag-liga","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-headlines","tag-los-angeles-news","tag-mexicano","tag-mexico","tag-mundial","tag-octavo-derrota","tag-partido","tag-seleccion","tag-tricolor"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=396176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/396176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/396177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=396176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=396176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=396176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}