Pasadena, California, Estados Unidos, 30 de mayo de 2026. , durante un partido internacional de preparación como parte del MEXTOUR 2026, entre la Selección Nacional de México y la Selección de Australia, realizado en el Rose Bowl Stadium. Foto: Imago7/ Etzel Espinosa
The kickoff of the 2026 World Cup is just days away from becoming a reality across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Ahead of the tournament’s start, excitement is mounting within every national team vying to claim the 18-karat trophy—especially for Raúl Jiménez.
The Mexican national team forward dreams of lifting the cup in New York: “I imagine myself lifting the Cup at the New York Stadium. We have to take it step by step, seeing how we can make that dream a reality,” he emphasized in an interview with ESPN.
Jiménez noted that the strategy involves taking things one step at a time, with the primary objective being to finish first in Group Z: “There are three group-stage matches, and five to become champions. Step by step: do our absolute best in the group stage, do whatever it takes to secure first place, and then go toe-to-toe against any opponent.”
Raúl Jiménez highlighted that now is the time to seize this tournament, particularly after having been denied the opportunity to fully showcase his talent in previous World Cups: “I have to make the most of this moment—prolong it—and arrive at the World Cup highly motivated, knowing that *this* has to be the one. Various factors in past World Cups prevented me from performing the way I would have liked. We can have a great World Cup run.”
The Mexican National Team is one of the most experienced squads in World Cup history, as this will mark its eighteenth appearance in the tournament. *El Tri* carries a historical burden, given that its greatest achievement to date remains reaching the Quarter-finals—a feat accomplished in both the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.
Javier Aguirre has been entrusted with the task of guiding Mexico through the 2026 World Cup. He brings extensive experience to the role—not only at the club level but also with *El Tri* itself—having previously served as the team’s head coach during the 2002 tournament in Korea and Japan, and again in South Africa in 2010.
*El Tri* will kick off its Group A campaign by facing South Africa on June 11th at the legendary *Coloso de Santa Úrsula*. The team will subsequently take on South Korea in Guadalajara before concluding the Group Stage against the Czech Republic at the Estadio Azteca.
