Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre revealed the nation's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with one selection drawing immediate global attention and making its way into the competition's history books.
The tournament, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is set to begin on June 11, with Mexico opening its campaign at Estadio Banorte against South Africa.
Veteran Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who had already represented his nation in the past five World Cups, was included in Aguirre's squad, immediately achieving a historic milestone.
At 40 years old, Ochoa is set to become one of three players ever selected for a sixth World Cup, joining soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the only players in that exclusive list.
Ochoa made his World Cup debut in 2006 and has remained a recurring call-up across multiple tournaments and coaching cycles. Ricardo La Volpe was in charge at the 2006 tournament, followed by Aguirre in the 2010 World Cup, Miguel Herrera in the 2014 World Cup, Juan Carlos Osorio in the 2018 World Cup, and Tata Martino in the 2022 edition.
Ochoa spoke to GOAL before Aguirre announced his team, sharing his hopes for making the cut one final time and representing Mexico at the World Cup for a record-setting sixth time.
“It’s not an easy record to break. There is no player with six World Cups, so it’s a big challenge for me,” Ochoa said.
Ochoa's inclusion wasn't guaranteed, given that he hasn't featured internationally since Nov. 2024, and that he spent last season playing club football with AEL Limassol of Cyprus' top-flight division.
Along with Ochoa, Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre also included Chivas Guadalajara's Raul Rangel and Santos Laguna's Carlos Acevedo as the other two goalkeepers in his roster.
Mexico will play a final warm-up match against Serbia on June 4 before beginning its group-stage campaign and kicking off the World Cup.
The hosts are scheduled to face South Korea and the Czech Republic in the opening round after the tournament-opener against South Africa.
