Aguirre admits World Cup 2026 stage pressure affected some Mexico players

Mexico's coach Javier Aguirre admitted that the immense atmosphere of the 2026 World Cup opening match in Mexico City weighed on some of his players. While the team secured a 2-0 victory against South Africa, Aguirre acknowledged that the pressure of playing on home soil in front of a packed Estadio Ciudad de México was a significant emotional challenge.

"We could have won the first half 3-0, we were vastly superior, but the score didn't reflect that; we gradually complicated things. In 25 games, we didn't have a cramp, and today we had three, which shows that the stage weighed a bit on some players," Aguirre stated in a press conference. He highlighted the fans' support as crucial for the win but also recognized the difficulty for some footballers to process the magnitude of the occasion.

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We could have won the first half 3-0, we were vastly superior, but the score didn't reflect that; we gradually complicated things. In 25 games, we didn't have a cramp, and today we had three, which shows that the stage weighed a bit on some players.

Aguirre stressed that the team still has room for improvement, particularly in converting chances. He pointed out that the match should have ended with a larger margin, like 4-0, and acknowledged the fans' right to express dissatisfaction if performance falters. "It's the start of the World Cup, we've put the nerves aside. We had a wider expected goal than what we achieved. We weren't very sharp, but that's the area of opportunity," he concluded, looking ahead to the next game against South Korea.

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It's the start of the World Cup, we've put the nerves aside. We had a wider expected goal than what we achieved. We weren't very sharp, but that's the area of opportunity.