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.
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 is the official Preliminary roster of 55 players chosen by our head coach, Javier Aguirre, handed over to FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. 🫡#SomosMéxico 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/hN2iGht3XV
— Mexican National Team (@miseleccionmxEN) May 12, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico announces provisional World Cup roster with 55 players
