Aguirre narrows down Mexico's starting XI for World Cup opener

Mexico's national football team coach, Javier Aguirre, is finalizing his starting lineup for the upcoming World Cup opener against South Africa on June 11. With a final warm-up match against Serbia tonight, Aguirre aims to confirm his preferred starting eleven for the tournament's inauguration.

While certain positions, such as goalkeeper, midfield, and the forward partnership alongside Raúl Jiménez, remain subjects of speculation, several players appear to be guaranteed starters. These include defenders César Montes and Johan Vásquez, midfielder Roberto Alvarado, and forward Raúl Jiménez.

These five players have consistently featured and played significant roles throughout Javier Aguirre's third tenure as the national team's manager, which began in September 2024. Their established presence in the squad suggests they are crucial to Aguirre's tactical plans for the World Cup campaign.

Other players like Álvaro Fidalgo, Brian Gutiérrez, Julián Quiñones, and Raúl Rangel are also vying for starting spots and could feature in the match at the Estadio Ciudad de México. The final decisions will likely be influenced by the performance against Serbia and the coach's assessment of team cohesion and readiness.