Admittedly, United States soccer fans have main character energy during the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.
The USMNT opened the first men’s World Cup on U.S. soil since 1994 with two emphatic victories, leading Americans to believe the USMNT is on the precipice of making a historic run as a host nation.
Mexico would like a word.
The Mexican men’s national team, affectionately nicknamed El Tri, looked exceptional en route to three wins (9 points). Not only have they won Group A, but they’re one of four teams yet to concede a single goal at this World Cup, per BBC Sport. Mexico finished group play with a 3-0 win over Czechia in Mexico City on Wednesday night, June 24.
Gilberto Mora, 17, started against Czechia and made men’s World Cup history.
“Pelé was the first World Cup player under age 18 when he debuted for Brazil in 1958,” The Associated Press relayed. “The youngest in World Cup history was Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland, who played in 1982 at 17 years, 41 days. Mora is the first 17-year-old to see World Cup action since Femi Opabunmi and Bartholomew Ogbeche for Nigeria in 2002.”
Mora is the youngest player at this World Cup and became the youngest-ever player to start for El Tri in a men’s World Cup match, but he wasn’t intimidated in the slightest — stating post-match that Mexico is ready to be world champions.
“We’ll give it our all to achieve our goal of winning the World Cup,” Mora said on TUDN Mexico, translated by The Touchline. “Let the fans get their hopes up!”
ESPN’s Herculez Gomez, who played professionally in Mexico and the United States, isn’t so sure Mexico can win the Cup, but he’s all in on Mora:
All three host nations — Canada, Mexico, and the United States — will feature in the knockout stage. Mexico and the U.S. each won the group, while Canada finished as runners-up to Switzerland in Group B.
Mexico will face the third-place finisher from Group C, E, F, H, or I, per FIFA. The exact opponent has not been determined as of this writing, but the match will take place in Mexico City on Tuesday, June 30.