The Mexican soccer team has traditionally been the strongest team within CONCACAF, the confederation of North American teams. And no matter how many people still insist on considering that Mexico belongs to South America, or even Central America, it is clear that the Aztec country is one of the three that make up the geographical area of North America, of the hand of the United States and Canada. Even though they have little to do socially and culturally, Mexicans have always served as a bridge between Latin America and North America, and in football it was no different. In fact, before the MLS, the American soccer league, became international, the first foreign players used to be Mexicans. The talent of the Aztecs to play soccer is not new, and of course its quality is unquestionable, but it is true that in major championships, Mexico has not achieved too many successes.
Beyond winning the Gold Cup on numerous occasions, and even winning a Confederations Cup in 1999, the Mexican team has not been able to demonstrate its talent in World Cups nor >America’s Cup. They are the two largest tournaments at the international level, but their participation in them has not exactly been brilliant. Nor in the Olympic Games, where they have only been twice. Mexico, however, usually goes to the World Cups thanks to its quality in its area, and its classification does not usually cost it too much. Of course, once in the World Championship, things get difficult for the Aztecs, since they encounter rivals of a usually higher level. In 2022, in Qatar, the team failed to advance beyond the group stage, something that had not happened for more than two decades. A poor performance prior to the 2026 World Cup, which will take place precisely in North America, organized jointly between Mexico, Canada and the USA. Even in 2018 the team managed to qualify for the round of 16 in Russia, despite the previous sexual scandal. And that concentration was anything but calm.