Mexico's national team manager, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, has revealed the final 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Injuries have posed a challenge for El Tri, particularly among the forwards, who have struggled with fitness and form in recent months. Despite these challenges, Martino has ensured that there aren't many surprises in the squad, sticking to a consistent and reliable group of players.
Mexico World Cup Squad 2022
Manager Tata Martino had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA. From this list, he has selected the final 26-man roster for Qatar, which was announced on November 14. The preliminary list excluded Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, who has been out of the national team since 2019. Also missing from the final roster are Julian Araujo, Rodolfo Pizarro, and Fernando Beltran. These exclusions have sparked controversy, especially considering Chicharito's good form for LA Galaxy and Mexico's scoring issues.
For the final squad, Martino had to make just four cuts from the preliminary roster. One of these cuts was Jesus Manuel 'Tecatito' Corona, who will not recover from his injury in time for the World Cup.
Here is Mexico's final 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup:
GK 12 Rodolfo Cota Club Leon (MEX) 35 8 GK 13 Guillermo Ochoa Club America (MEX) 37 132 GK 1 Alfredo Talavera FC Juarez (MEX) 40 40 DEF 26 Kevin Alvarez Pachuca (MEX) 23 8 DEF 2 Nestor Araujo Club America (MEX) 31 63 DEF 6 Gerardo Arteaga Genk (BEL) 24 17 DEF 23 Jesus Gallardo Monterrey (MEX) 28 79 DEF 3 Cesar Montes Monterrey (MEX) 25 31 DEF 15 Hector Moreno Monterrey (MEX) 34 128 DEF 19 Jorge Sanchez Ajax (NED) 24 26 DEF 4 Johan Vasquez Cremonese (ITA) 23 7 DEF 4 Edson Alvarez Ajax (NED) 24 59 MID 24 Luis Chavez Pachuca (MEX) 26 9 MID 18 Andres Guardado Real Betis (SPA) 36 180 MID 14 Erick Gutierrez PSV (NED) 27 34 MID 16 Hector Herrera Houston Dynamo (USA) 37 102 MID 8 Carlos Rodriguez Cruz Azul (MEX) 25 37 MID 7 Luis Romo Monterrey (MEX) 27 27 FWD 17 Orbelin Pineda AEK Athens (GRE) 26 50 FWD 25 Roberto Alvarado Chivas (MEX) 24 32 FWD 21 Uriel Antuna Cruz Azul (MEX) 25 37 FWD 11 Rogelio Funes Mori Monterrey (MEX) 31 16 FWD 9 Raul Jimenez Wolves (ENG) 31 97 FWD 22 Hirving Lozano Napoli (ITA) 27 60 FWD 20 Henry Martin Club America (MEX) 29 27 FWD 10 Alexis Vega Chivas (MEX) 24 23
Caption: Hirving Lozano will be a key player for Mexico in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Mexico's Strengths and Weaknesses
Mexico has consistently reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the past seven editions, but their journey has always ended in the Round of 16. Their goal for this World Cup is to surpass that stage and reach the coveted Quinto Partido, the quarterfinals. Argentine manager Tata Martino has been brought in to guide them towards this goal.
Stars
To achieve their ambition, Mexico will rely on the skills of Napoli winger Hirving "Chucky" Lozano. Known for his ability to unsettle defenders and create opportunities for his teammates, Lozano will be a crucial difference-maker in Mexico's attack.
Strengths
Mexico's squad is technically and tactically adept, with players who excel at possession-based play. Their challenge lies in converting possession into goals. Alongside Lozano, wingers like Alexis Vega, Uriel Antuna, and Diego Lainez play a pivotal role in creating scoring opportunities. If opponents can neutralize these playmakers, Mexico may struggle to threaten.
Weaknesses
Mexico's weaknesses lie in their goalscoring and set-piece defending. While their forward positions have seen rotation, the issue lies more with the lack of service to the attackers rather than their finishing ability. Raul Jimenez, when fit, is the expected starter, with Santiago Gimenez as his backup. However, Henry Martin's hard work and midfield support make a case for his involvement. Mexico's success will depend on the effectiveness of their wingers and the ability to create chances from other areas.
Mexico's World Cup Group
Mexico, currently ranked 13th by FIFA, has been drawn into Group C alongside Argentina, Poland, and Saudi Arabia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the next stage.
Match Schedule:
- Tues, Nov. 22: Argentina 1 - Saudi Arabia 2
- Tues, Nov. 22: Mexico 0 - Poland 0
- Sat, Nov. 26: Poland 2 - Saudi Arabia 0
- Sat, Nov. 26: Argentina 2 - Mexico 0
- Wed, Nov. 30: Poland vs. Argentina
- Wed, Nov. 30: Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico
Replacing Players on the World Cup Roster
Once the final 26-man roster is official, teams can only make changes before the first game of the tournament in exceptional circumstances, such as serious injury or illness. The team must submit a medical report to FIFA, who will assess whether the player's condition prevents them from participating. If approved, the replacement player must be selected from the preliminary list submitted in October.
Mexico's final 26-man roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup showcases a blend of experience and talent, and El Tri will aim to overcome their past Round of 16 curse. With Tata Martino at the helm and stars like Hirving Lozano leading the charge, Mexico hopes to make history in Qatar.
