World Cup co-host Mexico was optimistic about its chances of advancing from the group stage after being drawn to play against South Africa, South Korea and a yet-to-be-determined European team.
El Tri will kick off the tournament on June 11 in Mexico City against South Africa in Group A, in a repeat of the opening game from the 2010 World Cup when South Africa hosted the event.
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Aguirre, in his third stint as Mexico’s coach, was at the helm on that occasion as the two teams tied 1-1. Mexico went onto progress to the round of 16, while South Africa became the first host country to fail to advance from the group stage.
Mexico will play South Korea in Guadalajara on June 18. The last group stage match will be back in Mexico City against the winner of a European playoff involving Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia and the Republic of Ireland.
While some TV analysts described the group as “easy,” coach Javier Aguirre was more cautious.
“We faced Korea and they are not an easy team. They do their job. They are disciplined and organized, while South Africa is not easy either,” he said after the draw in Washington, D.C., on Friday. “They are good teams, but we have a chance, we are at home and with our people.”
The country has high hopes despite being eliminated in the group stage in the 2022 World Cup and mixed results in international matches ahead of next year’s tournament.
“There won’t be any easy opponents, but it could have been worse,” said striker Raúl Jiménez, who plays for Fulham in the Premier League. “I think it’s a good group, from which we can learn a lot, and we’re taking it one game at a time because what we want is to win and finish first.”
Mexico has played South Korea twice in World Cup history and won both games, in France 1998 and Russia 2018. The teams tied 2-2 in a friendly match last September.
“It’s basically a European team, everyone is in Europe except the goalkeeper, they have a coach I know and they have physical strength which makes them a very strong opponent,” Aguirre said.
Mexico’s captain Edson Álvarez said that the team can go far in the World Cup.
“I’m happy because we have faced those rivals before,” Alvarez said to TUDN of his team’s group.
The midfielder, on loan at Fenerbahçe from West Ham United, said that playing at home will also help the Mexican team try to emulate its best historical results, reaching the quarterfinals in the previous World Cups played in Mexico in 1970 and 1986.
“You feel a responsibility as one of the hosts to open this great event,” Álvarez said. “We rely on the extra support the fans give us, and opening the event against South Africa helps, and we can do great things.”
Winners and second-place nations from the 12 groups advance to the new round of 32 along with the top eight third-place teams.
Aguirre, who was a member of the Mexico squad that lost to West Germany on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, said hot weather could be an advantage in next year’s tournament.
“I remember the 1986 World Cup match against Germany; it was very hot. It’s going to be a demanding situation for our opponents, but we’ll be preparing at home,” the 67-year-old coach said. “We hope to have our players who are currently playing outside of Mexico back soon so they can adapt.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
