Mexico Downs Ghana 2-0 in World Cup Warm-up, Coach Praises Squad Depth

Mexico Triumphs Over Ghana in World Cup Friendly

Mexico clinched a 2-0 win against Ghana in a World Cup warm-up match on Friday, May 22, 2026, in Puebla. The friendly, held less than three weeks before Mexico co-hosts the World Cup, showcased the country's growing anticipation for the tournament. Although Puebla is not an official World Cup host city, Estadio Cuauhtemoc was filled with enthusiastic fans adorned in green shirts, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Mexican waves were a common sight despite some empty sections of the stadium, which were closed due to FIFA sanctions related to discriminatory chants at previous national team games.

The scoring began almost immediately when Brian Gutierrez netted a curling shot from the edge of the box just two minutes into the game. Mexico continued to press, with teenage Liga MX sensation Gil Mora hitting the post in the first half. Alexis Vega also had a goal disallowed for offside before the break. Mexico's coach, Javier Aguirre, expressed his admiration for Mora, noting, "He's a different player, we've always said that. He's brave, direct, vertical... he gives us great joy because he's Mexican and because he's back without pain." This marked Mora's first appearance for the national team since November, following his recovery from injury.

Ghana, playing under assistant coaches in the absence of newly appointed head coach Carlos Queiroz, showed signs of life in the second half, forcing Mexico's goalkeeper into a couple of saves and hitting the crossbar. However, their hopes of an equalizer were dashed in the 54th minute when substitute Guillermo Martinez concluded a swift counterattack, doubling Mexico's lead to 2-0.

Coach Aguirre utilized the friendly as a critical opportunity to evaluate players before finalizing Mexico's World Cup squad on June 1. European-based players Luis Chavez, Edson Alvarez, and Jorge Sanchez, who recently joined the training camp, made second-half appearances, demonstrating the depth of talent available. Aguirre commended the commitment of all players vying for a spot on the final roster, stating, "The fact they tried and gave their best effort, for me, that's already worthwhile." He acknowledged the difficulty in making the final selections, describing it as the most complex aspect of his role and emphasizing the need to consider all possible scenarios with his coaching staff.