Mexico is favorite against South Africa and aims to win the group, assures Mateo Chávez

The Mexican national team is heading into the 2026 World Cup with high expectations, aiming to make history by not only competing but also dominating their group, especially with the tournament being held on home soil.

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The objective number one is to finish leaders of the group.

Mateo Chávez, a player for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, expressed the team's confidence, stating, "The objective number one is to finish leaders of the group." He emphasized that Mexico considers itself the favorite against their opening opponent, South Africa, largely due to the advantage of playing in front of an expected crowd of over 80,000 fans at the Estadio Ciudad de México. "Against South Africa we are favorites because we are at home," Chávez asserted.

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Against South Africa we are favorites because we are at home.

The atmosphere surrounding the team is one of growing excitement. Chávez anticipates a "party" on June 11th, the team's debut date, noting that the public's enthusiasm fuels the squad's morale. "I imagine a party on June 11th, I think more and more people are getting excited with us and that helps us a lot from the psychological side," he added.

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I imagine a party on June 11th, I think more and more people are getting excited with us and that helps us a lot from the psychological side.

Beyond the immediate goal of topping the group, Mexico's broader ambition is to progress as far as possible in the tournament, driven by a desire to "make people happy" and "fight and leave everything on the field." Chávez, who is fulfilling a World Cup dream his father couldn't, is prepared to contribute from wherever he is needed, embracing the significance of representing his country on the world stage.

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to make people happy, reach as far as we can, fighting and leaving our lives on the field.