Hector Herrera’s name was once a key member of the Mexican national team, but his form suddenly declined and he was placed on the bench in Toluca. Now, to the surprise of many, the experienced midfielder is set to return to the organization back on the continent after a stint in Europe, but it appears he has some unfinished business.
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“HH” has been officially announced as the latest addition to the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer (MLS). Despite his excitement over his return, Herrera made his position clear on playing in another World Cup, ruling out the possibility of playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Hector Herrera’s stance on the 2026 World Cup
The veteran midfielder, who enjoyed a glittering career in Europe with clubs such as FC Porto and Atltico Madrid, is not thinking of hosting another World Cup – it’s not even on his radar – and he has clear reasons why.
“I’m not thinking about playing in another World Cup. Right now, I have three priorities in life. Personally, I’m here in Houston (my kids), and on the sports side, I’m on the team that I want to be on and feel at home,” Herrera explained during the official press conference with the Texas club.
The 35-year-old midfielder played for Mexico in the past three World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022), but has not played a single minute for El Tri since September 10, 2023, the second season of his first stint in Houston. He has also not been called up by coach Javier Aguirre since the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup began in July 2024.
“What made me come back was that the kids were happy here. Also, the story between the club and me didn’t end the way I wanted it to. It left the impression that I wasn’t human. That motivated me to come back and finish the branch properly. I want to be here for many years to win titles,” added Herrera.
After a year away, Herrera returns to the Bicampen de la Liga MX with Toluca (Clausura & Apertura 2025) and aims to transform the Houston Dynamo into a winning team in MLS, bringing with him a proven championship mentality.
“This is the best moment of my career to come back. After a year where we won everything with Toluca, I come back with a winning mindset. I want to bring that mentality here and spread it to the players so we can fight together towards the same goal.”
Herrera is under contract through the 2026 MLS season, with a club option until June 2027, and will serve as captain from 2022 to 2024, marking his second stint with the Houston Dynamo, following a memorable debut in which he played a key role in stabilizing the club. He left Toluca as a modern-day legend after contributing to a historic back-to-back Liga MX title, albeit in a more rotational role during the 2025 season (34 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists).
