Mexico national team manager Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino has promised there won’t be too many surprises in the list of players he has named in the final roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The intrigue with El Tri came in the form of injuries, particularly among the forwards. Mexico have been plagued by scoring woes over the past year, with the best Mexican attackers struggling for fitness and form in recent months, and it is unclear whether some of them will be able to recover in time.
Mexico announced its preliminary roster for the World Cup on October 26, ahead of a November 9 friendly against Iraq in Spain. Then, the final 26-man roster was announced on November 14.
El Tri set up camp in Girona, Spain before departing for Qatar, pre-World Cup friendlies with Iraq and Sweden before kicking off Group C play against Poland on Tuesday, November 22.
Here is the final 26-man Mexico squad named by Tata Martino for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
More:
Argentina vs Mexico Final Scores, Highlights, 2022 World Cup Group C Match Results
Mexico World Cup 2022 squad
Manager Tata Martino had until Friday, October 21 to submit an official preliminary list of 35-55 players to FIFA, from which he would select his final 26-man roster for Qatar by Monday, November 14.
The preliminary list was officially unveiled on October 26 by the Mexican Federation. Among those who did not make the initial preliminary list was Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez, who was left out of the national team by Martino from 2019. Chicharito’s omission is surprising given Martino’s continued stance on the player, but it remains controversial given the player’s good form for LA Galaxy and Mexico’s attacking woes.
Also not included were Chicharito’s LA Galaxy teammate Julian Araujo, Monterrey playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro, and Chivas midfielder Fernando Beltran. Pizarro is a well-known figure, but he has not been heavily involved with the national team since 2020, while Beltran has been a fringe player for the past six months.
For the final 26-man roster, Martino needed to make just four cuts from the initial 31-man roster. That’s because Mexico has announced that Jesus Manuel ‘Tecatito’ Corona will not return from his injury in time for the World Cup.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| 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 |
The Stars, Strengths and Weaknesses of the Mexico National Team
Mexico has been a regular in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the last seven editions, reaching the Round of 16 each time.
But the road has ended there, with seven consecutive defeats in the Round of 16 against opponents Brazil (2018), Argentina (2006 and 2010), the Netherlands (2014), Germany (1998), Bulgaria (1994), and more. United States (2002).
El Tri hired Argentine manager Tata Martino to help them dream of a quinto partido (“fifth game,” or appearance in the quarterfinals).
STARS
If they are going to reach their target or go even further, they will need Napoli winger Hirving “Chucky” Lozano to be a difference-maker and inspire the attack. He has a knack for sending opposing defenders into scramble mode and opening up spaces for his teammates.
POWRES
The Mexican team is technically and tactically sound, with players who know how to keep possession and manage the game. The question has been raised whether the opposition can be hurt by this.
That’s where Chucky Lozano comes in.
With Alexis Vega on the left side, Uriel Antuna on the right and Diego Lionez on the bench, these wingers are essentially the team’s playmakers. If opposing teams can shut them down, Mexico will have a tough time threatening.
WEAKNESS
It’s goal scoring and set-piece defending, which doesn’t make for a terribly promising combination.
Many Mexican revolving doors are built in front locations, but the problem is less about their finishing ability and more about the lack of service. As mentioned above, if the wingers don’t cook the food, it’s less likely to come from anywhere else.
When healthy, Wolves forward Raul Jimenez is the current starter, and Santiago Gimenez is his backup. Given Gimenez’s goal-scoring run with Feyenoord (six goals in 16 games), the 21-year-old could push to become a starter.
But there is also an argument for Henry Martin, a hard-working forward who is unselfish and comes back to help build the attack. In a few days, Mexico will need more help in midfield.