Mexico has released manager Javier Aguirre’s provisional roster for the World Cup, naming a full 55 players for the list, which must be trimmed to 26 names by June 1.
El Tri’s star names are all present, with Raul Jimenez up top, teenage sensation Gilberto Mora in the midfield, center-back pairing Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes, and World Cup legend Guillermo Ochoa in goal.
So, too, are players like Chivas goalkeeper Raul Rangel, who is expected to start over Ochoa, Rangel’s club teammate Armando “Hormiga” Gonzalez and Toluca playmaker Alexis Vega.
Absent are a pair of players who will miss the World Cup for different reasons. FC Copenhagen right back Rodrigo Huescas hoped to recover from an October ACL tear in time to make the squad, but is yet to return to the field for his club team and is not on this list.
San Diego FC attacker Hirving Lozano is fit but hasn’t played in months for the MLS team because of an internal dispute. Out of rhythm, Aguirre left the 2018 World Cup goalscorer off the provisional squad.
Which Mexico players are returning from injury?
While the tournament comes too soon for Huescas, several players returning from injury have made the squad.
Edson Alvarez, listed as a defender though he also can play in the midfield, is still working back from injuries suffered with Fenerbahçe. He recently returned to the field in Turkey for a short cameo in a league game. Fulback Julian Araujo is yet to return from an injury suffered playing for Celtic in March.
But the injury news is more encouraging further up the field, where two-way midfielder Luis Chavez has seen minutes in five Dinamo Moscow games after suffering an ACL tear in the summer of 2025.
Cesar “Chino” Huerta had a pair of surgeries after an injury in the pelvic area but has come off the Anderlecht bench twice in May and also makes the long list.
Spain – 17th appearance
Brazil – 23rd appearance
United States of America – 12th appearance
Mexico – 18th appearance
England – 17th appearance
Portugal – ninth appearance
France – 17th appearance
Iran – seventh appearance
Switzerland – 13th appearance
Croatia – seventh appearance
Australia – seventh appearance
Morocco – seventh appearance
Austria – eighth appearance
Ecuador – fifth appearance
Senegal – fourth appearance
South Korea – 12th appearance
Japan – eighth appearance
Colombia – seventh appearance
Netherlands – 12th appearance
Germany – 21st appearance
Belgium – 15th appearance
Canada – third appearance
Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
Uzbekistan – first appearance
Jordan – first appearance
Tunisia – seventh appearance
South Africa – fourth appearance
Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
Scotland – ninth appearance
Algeria – fifth appearance
New Zealand – third appearance
Paraguay – ninth appearance
Egypt – fourth appearance
Cape Verde – first appearance
Qatar – second appearance
Norway – fourth appearance
Panama – second appearance
Curacao – first appearance
Ghana – fifth appearance
Haiti – second appearance
1 / 40
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Spain – 17th appearance
1 / 40
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Spain – 17th appearance
2 / 40
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Brazil – 23rd appearance
3 / 40
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United States of America – 12th appearance
4 / 40
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Mexico – 18th appearance
5 / 40
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England – 17th appearance
6 / 40
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Portugal – ninth appearance
7 / 40
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France – 17th appearance
8 / 40
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Iran – seventh appearance
9 / 40
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Switzerland – 13th appearance
10 / 40
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Croatia – seventh appearance
11 / 40
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Australia – seventh appearance
12 / 40
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Morocco – seventh appearance
13 / 40
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Austria – eighth appearance
14 / 40
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Ecuador – fifth appearance
15 / 40
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Senegal – fourth appearance
16 / 40
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South Korea – 12th appearance
17 / 40
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Japan – eighth appearance
18 / 40
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Colombia – seventh appearance
19 / 40
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Netherlands – 12th appearance
20 / 40
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Germany – 21st appearance
21 / 40
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Belgium – 15th appearance
22 / 40
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Canada – third appearance
23 / 40
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Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
24 / 40
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Uzbekistan – first appearance
25 / 40
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Jordan – first appearance
26 / 40
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Tunisia – seventh appearance
27 / 40
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South Africa – fourth appearance
28 / 40
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Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
29 / 40
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Scotland – ninth appearance
30 / 40
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Algeria – fifth appearance
31 / 40
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New Zealand – third appearance
32 / 40
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Paraguay – ninth appearance
33 / 40
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Egypt – fourth appearance
34 / 40
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Cape Verde – first appearance
35 / 40
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Qatar – second appearance
36 / 40
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Norway – fourth appearance
37 / 40
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Panama – second appearance
38 / 40
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Curacao – first appearance
39 / 40
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Ghana – fifth appearance
40 / 40
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Haiti – second appearance
Could Marcel Ruiz or Richard Ledezma still make Mexico’s World Cup roster?
Aguirre is currently working with a training camp of Liga MX-based players who he will take to the World Cup as preparations are underway not just for the tournament, but for a May 22 friendly against Ghana and two subsequent friendly contests ahead of a June 11 opener against South Africa.
An agreement between Liga MX teams and Mexico’s federation meant that players are missing the Liguilla, Liga MX’s playoffs, as their club teams continue to push toward the Clausura title. It also was billed as the end of the road for Liga MX-based players if they weren’t included on the list.
But under FIFA rules, Aguirre still has the opportunity to put players based in Liga MX on his final roster, even if they weren’t part of the training camp. It would be a controversial move within the Mexican soccer community, but one the manager may feel like he needs to make.
Among the domestic-based players not in the camp who could get a late call are Toluca midfielder Marcel Ruiz, who partially tore his ACL but opted to play on in hopes of earning a World Cup place. Ruiz and Toluca were eliminated from the Liga MX playoffs but play the Concacaf Champions Cup final against Tigres on May 30.
With Huescas not on the list and Araujo’s thigh injury putting his status in doubt, Mexico’s fullback depth after likely starters Jesus Gallardo and Israel Reyes is a question mark. That could see Chivas right back Richy Ledezma back in the picture. The Phoenix-born player debuted with Mexico this year after his one-time switch from the U.S. was approved.
After meeting Ghana on May 22, Mexico has a match with Australia on May 30 and a June 4 friendly against Serbia to close out its pre-World Cup schedule.
Full Mexico World Cup provisional roster
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico announces provisional World Cup roster with 55 players
