Mexico in disarray: Players threatened with World Cup axe over bizarre training camp

News

Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Mexico have announced that the Liga MX players who do not take part in manager Javier "Vasco" Aguirre's bizarre mid-season training camp will not feature in the country's World Cup squad.

The upcoming FIFA event is undoubtedly a big deal for Mexico, and the pressure on El Tri is particularly enormous this summer, given that the team has been somewhat underwhelming since winning the Gold Cup in 2025.

The subsequent international friendlies were dire. In October, Mexico were thrashed 4-0 by Colombia. The following month, they played out a scoreless draw with Uruguay in Torreon, during which chants of "Vasco out" were directed at the manager.

The game also saw Chivas goalkeeper Tala Rangel booed because the crowd wanted hometown hero Carlos Acevedo to start in goal for El Tri. A few days later, Mexico lost to Paraguay. Since then, extra measures have been taken to ensure that the team is ready for a third home World Cup.

A whopping five friendlies have already been played this calendar year - with improved results (three wins against lesser opposition and draws with Portugal and Belgium) - and three more will follow before the tournament kicks off.

Mexico boss threatens his players

Moreover, in order to have more time with his players, manager Aguirre has decided to hold a training camp - right now. The 20 Liga MX-based players who have been called up were told to report for international duty by Wednesday, 8 p.m. Mexico City time at the latest.

Predictably, this bizarre mid-season training camp has caused problems. Liga MX's playoff tournament - the Liguilla - is in full swing after kicking off on 2 May, which means that clubs are without their best players during the most important time of the season.

That said, the clubs actually approved of this training camp. All of them agreed to make their players available for Mexico, and it was only when rumours of potential exceptions began doing the rounds that some began backpedalling.

Reports had claimed that Toluca would have Alexis Vega and Jesus Gallardo available for their CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-final second leg with LAFC on Wednesday and that the players would be allowed to report for Mexico duty a day late.

Unsurprisingly, other clubs began to cry foul, especially Chivas, who have been hit hardest because they only sign players with a Mexican passport. They lost to Tigres at the weekend without many of their most important performers.

Club owner Amaury Vergara thus ordered his players to report for training this week ahead of the Guadalajara outfit's return fixture with Tigres on 9 May. Star striker Armando "Hormiga" Gonzalez was seen entering the club's facilities earlier on Wednesday after missing the first leg.

In response, Mexico released a remarkable statement in which it is made clear that no-shows will not be tolerated. Any player who does not report by the Wednesday deadline will not be included in the World Cup squad.

"All players must report to the Centro de Alto Rendimiento in Mexico City," the statement read. "Per instructions from the coaching staff, any player who fails to report to the training camp today will be excluded from the World Cup squad."

Aguirre held a press conference after this statement was released in which he reiterated his stance, though he did claim that "everything is going according to plan" and that "the World Cup starts now."

"All of the selected players are scheduled to be eating all together at 8 at night," Aguirre said. "As you’ll know, the release is very clear. Whoever doesn’t come will be out of the World Cup. It’s something that we can’t be flexible on."

He added: "I want to show my face. I’m here to explain that, well, it’s a unique project, and we’re working on it. There hasn’t been anything extraordinary.

"Everything is going according to the plan, with the great support of everyone: the fans, the players, directors, the press, everyone is in the same boat, and I think it’s important to say that to you."

The camp has become a major talking point. Many fans of the affected teams - and neutrals - do not see much sense in holding a training camp right now, especially since the Europe-based players won't even be there.

By the time Mexico kick off the first of their three friendlies on 22 May, the players in the camp will not have played a competitive game in three weeks, which can't be conducive to building up match sharpness and any kind of rhythm.