MEXICO CITY (AP) — WHEN Javier Aguirre As a player, he believed Mexico’s grueling year-long training camp in the run-up to the 1986 World Cup was the key to El Tri reaching the quarter-finals and rivaling their best results.
As a coach of national teamhe’s trying to recreate that vintage formula.
Unlike most participating countries, which must wait for the domestic league to finish before forming a team. Mexico We started recruiting players more than a month before the opening day. world cup He was pulled from the team during the Liga MX match against South Africa on June 11th.
“This is a project, it’s not a whim. It’s a project to try to make this a great World Cup,” Aguirre said. “We concluded that in order to be at home and have this great facility, we needed to be well prepared in every way. This meant getting ready five weeks before the World Cup.”
The 67-year-old coach led Mexico to its third World Cup appearance and was an integral part of the 1986 team that defeated Belgium and Bulgaria before losing in the quarter-finals to eventual finalist West Germany on penalties. El Tri only reached that stage in 1970, also in their home country.
“Being part of the national team and being able to play in the World Cup at home is irreplaceable,” Coach Aguirre said. Tournament with 48 teams Mexico is said to be co-hosting the event with the United States and Canada.
modern dilemma
Modern soccer has challenges that didn’t exist in 1986. The Mexican squad had only one European-based star, Real Madrid icon Hugo Sánchez, but the current squad has 14 players competing in Europe.
In order to secure domestic players quickly, Aguirre had to convince the owners of the 18 teams in Liga MX1 that extending camp was the only way to really make a mark at home. His blueprint was approved last December and the practice gates opened on May 6th with an initial group of 12 domestic players.
However, this strategy has drawn criticism from some of the biggest names in Mexican soccer, especially former national team coach Ricardo La Volpe, who led El Tri to the last 16 of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
“I’m really surprised and I have a lot of respect for Javier Aguirre, but I can’t understand him for simple reasons. Firstly, he doesn’t have most of his players, which makes training pointless,” La Volpe insisted. “If we can’t work together with everyone, I think we should let our players take advantage of the domestic playoffs to keep up the rhythm of the game.”
collect the pieces
Due to the staggered arrivals, Aguirre initially had to bring in players from the youth academy as sparring partners to complete training sessions. But behind the scenes, the manager used his deep network and public relations knowledge to persuade some European clubs to release Mexican players ahead of schedule.
Mexico national team poses for a group photo before an international soccer friendly match against Ghana in Puebla, Mexico, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
The political maneuvering worked. By early last week, Aguirre had 18 of his final 26 players available for the warm-up match against Ghana. Mexico wins 2-0.
Mexico continues intensive preparations for Saturday’s friendly against Australia in Pasadena, California, followed by a final test against Serbia in Toluca on June 4 – just a week before the spotlight turns to the high-stakes World Cup opener against South Africa. At Azteca Stadium. Mexico will also play South Korea and the Czech Republic in Group A.
In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Mexico didn’t win From that group.
world class foundation
To ensure optimal preparation, the Mexican Football Federation has invested 400 million pesos ($23 million) in a major renovation of Centro de Alto Rendimiento, an elite training center on the outskirts of Mexico City.
“This investment reflects our commitment to the World Cup,” says federation president Mikel Arriola. “We have built a facility that provides our national team with the best preparation environment on par with the world’s footballing powers. holding the world cup We are required to raise standards in all areas on and off the field. ”
Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal against Ghana in an international soccer match in Puebla, Mexico, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Senior team accommodation has been expanded from 20 to 45 private rooms and a new player entertainment lounge has been added. But the highlight of the renovation is a state-of-the-art facility with a huge gym that has grown from 1,200 square meters to 6,000 square meters. The new complex also integrates a modernized medical building, advanced physical therapy and hydrotherapy laboratories, locker rooms, coaches’ offices and a dedicated sports intelligence hub.
build brotherhood
While critics have questioned the tactical wisdom of extending camp, the players themselves support an early lockdown. Beyond tactical training, the team sees isolation as a crucible for building chemistry beyond the pitch.
“You have to be here to really understand it,” defender Israel Reyes said. “People may say it’s been a long time apart, but it’s helped us really get to know each other.”
Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez (right) celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal against Ghana during an international soccer friendly on Friday, May 22, 2026 in Puebla, Mexico. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
For Reyes and his teammates, the long hours spent at the upgraded training center have formed a collective identity that can be crucial under intense team pressure. home tournament.
“The camaraderie in the locker room is very important because we are starting to feel like a brotherhood,” Reyes added. “Everything changes on the field. You’re no longer just protecting your teammates, you’re protecting your brother.”
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
