WWith less than 90 days until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one of the host nations has suffered a setback. Mexico’s goalkeeper Luis Malagun has injured his Achilles tendon and will be absent from the match.
The Amrica goalkeeper was named on Javier Aguirre’s list of players, along with Lar Rangel and Carlos Acevedo. From now on, coaches will need to thoroughly analyze all options to cover the goal.
What options does Javier Aguirre have?
On Tuesday, March 10, it was revealed that Maragun suffered a serious injury to his Achilles tendon during the Concaf Champions League game between Amrica and Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.
Unfortunately, this injury will keep him out of the field for about six to nine months, meaning he will not only be unable to participate in Amrica events such as the Conca Champions and the 2026 Clausura, but also the World Cup.
Several names have been floated as there is a need to find another goalkeeper to protect Mexico in the friendly games leading up to the tournament and, of course, in the hosts’ Group A opener against South Africa on June 11.
In the first dates of FIFA, Guillermo Ochoa was called up as the goalkeeper of “El Tri” and is expected to be available. “Memo” has participated in five World Cups and has a wealth of experience in the national team. Rodolfo Cota could also provide veteran experience and leadership. Cota, who currently plays for Amrica, has recently been given a chance to play after replacing Malagun after his injury.
On the other hand, if the goal is to attract a new generation, other names may be considered.
One candidate for the third goalkeeper position is Santos Laguna’s Carlos Acevedo, who is known for his agility and reflexes and is a regular on Aguirre’s call-ups. Lal Rangel started for Chivas and has started the last three games for the Mexican national team, gaining experience in both domestic and international tournaments.
Andrus Sunchez is also a possibility. The Atltico San Luis goalkeeper showed confidence and consistency in his goal under the watchful eye of coach Aguirre. Another option is Andres Gudio, currently the goalkeeper of Cruz Azul, who could provide support to Malagun. He has been considered in various cycles of the senior national team and stands out for his ability in pressure situations.
Finally, Carlos Moreno has hardly been called up for El Tri, but he did participate in the last Nations League and could be one of the candidates for Mexico’s national team. Alex Padilla plays for Athletic Bilbao and although he did not perform well in Liga MX, he did receive minutes in the Copa del Rey and is liked by coach Aguirre. American sub-23 Fernando Tapia and Toluca’s Luis Galca are also possible candidates.
Therefore, they wanted to avoid losing their starting goalkeeper, but fortunately Aguirre’s team has quality options to meet this challenge.
Remaining games for the Mexican national team until the 2026 World Cup:
Mexico vs. Portugal: March 28 at Azteca Stadium Mexico vs. Belgium: March 31 at Chicago’s Soldier Field Mexico vs. Ghana: May 22 at Estadio Cuoutomoc Mexico vs. Australia: May 30 at California’s Rose Bowl Mexico vs. Serbia: June 4 at Puebla.
