One of the most eagerly awaited moments ahead of any World Cup is the announcement of national team squads.
While Brazil has turned its reveal into a televised event that captures emotional reactions from players and their families, Mexico has developed its own tradition—though not always without controversy, as past incidents involving players and off-field issues have sparked media attention.
The latest development, however, is less scandalous but still highlights ongoing concerns about how the process is managed. On Tuesday, the Mexican Football Federation released a list of 20 Liga MX-based players who will take part in a pre-World Cup training camp in Mexico City starting May 6. Of those selected, 12 are already assured of places in the final World Cup squad.
The remaining eight players are being considered for Mexico’s longer-term plans, including the 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle. They will compete alongside the core group in training as Mexico prepares for warm-up matches against Ghana (May 22), Australia (May 29), and Serbia (June 4).
What was initially intended by head coach Javier Aguirre and sporting director Duilio Davino as a strategy to build cohesion and refine tactics has instead led to confusion among fans and criticism from analysts.
The FMF had originally planned to release the partial squad list earlier, but shifting timelines fueled speculation that Aguirre and Davino were not aligned. Although officials later clarified that Tuesday had always been the intended release date, the delay sparked widespread online reactions and mockery.
Social media users likened the prolonged wait to the Vatican’s announcement of a new pope, joking about the absence of a “habemus” declaration for the squad.
Davino had assured reporters that no player included in the list would miss Liga MX playoff action or be excluded from the World Cup, meaning that any selected players from top clubs such as Chivas, Club América, Cruz Azul, Tigres, Pachuca, Pumas, Atlas, and Toluca are effectively guaranteed spots.
An FMF spokesperson also confirmed that the remaining 14 places in the final squad will be filled by players based in Europe and other international leagues.
Even before the official list was published, reports had already surfaced regarding notable omissions, including dual-national defender Richard Ledezma, Toluca midfielder Marcel Ruiz, and Cruz Azul midfielder Charly Rodríguez.
Credit: The Athletic
