Mexico go face Ghana for Puebla on Friday, as dem begin final preparation for 2026 World Cup. Dis match na first friendly for early camp wey Javier Aguirre open, and e don show di urgency around dis team.
Di history between Mexico and Ghana no too long. Dem don meet only four times, and Mexico don win all. Di first meeting happen before 2006 World Cup for Frisco, Texas, where Mexico beat Ghana 1-0 with goal from Guillermo Franco.
Two years later, dem meet again for London. Mexico win 2-1 with goals from Carlos Salcido and Pavel Pardo. But despite di win, Hugo Sánchez still lose im job as national team coach because of Olympic qualifying failure for Beijing 2008.
Almost 10 years later, for 2017, Mexico face Ghana again for Houston. Elías Hernández score di only goal as Mexico win 1-0 under coach Juan Carlos Osorio.
Di most recent meeting come for October 2023, for Charlotte, North Carolina. Mexico win 2-0, continuing dia dominance over di African side.
For dis upcoming friendly, Mexico go miss some Europe-based players wey still dey integrate. But some key players don already report to camp, including Mateo Chavez, Guillermo Ochoa, Jorge Sanchez, Julian Araujo, Cesar Montes, Luis Chavez, and Edson Alvarez.
Brian Gutierrez don dey grow im role for di team, and Raul Rangel dey compete for number one spot. Edson Alvarez fitness also dey important as Mexico fine-tune before World Cup.
Ghana side wey go play no be full strength. Dem bring home-based and under-23 players, while di main squad dey prepare under new coach Carlos Queiroz. Queiroz don travel to 12 cities, watch 14 matches, and study 55 players as e prepare for im fifth World Cup.
Di match go hold for Estadio Cuauhtemoc for Puebla, a venue wey host World Cup matches for 1970 and 1986. Dis city also go host Spain soon, making am important checkpoint for Mexico.
Mexico no don lose for 2026 after five friendlies, and results against Portugal and Belgium give Aguirre hope say di team dey arrive in great form.
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