Deep run the objective for World Cup stalwarts Mexico

MIAMI, Florida – The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is now just days away from kicking off, with the four teams from Concacaf all hoping to deliver strong performances.

No team from Concacaf has been more consistent when it comes to World Cup qualification and World Cup performances than Mexico. El Tricolor have qualified for 17 World Cups in their history, including eight straight dating back to USA 1994.

Mexico also have the most World Cup victories of any Concacaf nation with 16 and have qualified for the knockout round in their last seven World Cup appearances. Overall, Mexico have a 16W-14D-27L record in World Cup play, with 60 goals scored and 98 conceded. They have also twice reached the quarterfinal stage, each time coming on home soil in 1970 and 1986.

On an individual level, former defender Rafael Marquez is just one of two players (Antonio Carvajal) to have played in five different World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018) and has the most World Cup games played by a Mexico player with 19, while forwards Javier Hernandez and Luis Hernandez are the top World Cup goal scorers for Mexico with four goals each.

Another Mexico player, Manuel Rosas Sanchez, also wrote his name into the FIFA history books at the first World Cup at Uruguay 1930 by becoming the first player to score a brace in a World Cup match when he did that in the 6-3 loss to Argentina, and by being the first player to score a goal via penalty in a World Cup, doing so in that same match versus Argentina.

Mexico´s captain Rafa Marquez in action against Germany in a Group F Match of he´s last FIFA World Cup at the Luzhnikí Stadium in the city of Moscow.

Current GK Guillermo Ochoa is poised to break a record at Qatar 2022 for the most saves by a Concacaf GK in World Cup competition. Ochoa has 25 career World Cup saves and is just two behind Tim Howard of the United States.

Mexico qualified for this year’s World Cup as the second-place team from the Third Round of Concacaf World Cup Qualifying for Qatar 2022 with a record of 8W-4D-2L and 17 goals scored and just eight conceded. Raul Jimenez was the top scorer for Mexico in the final round of WCQ with three goals.

At Qatar 2022, Mexico will open their Group C campaign against Poland on November 22 in what will be the second ever World Cup meeting between the two sides. Poland captured a 3-1 win in their previous encounter at Argentina 1978. It will be the 35th match for Mexico against a European opponent, with El Tricolor hoping to improve upon their 9W-9D-16L mark against UEFA competition.

Next will be a date against a very familiar foe in Argentina on November 26. It will be the fourth World Cup meeting between the two nations, with Argentina having won all three previous matches, including a memorable 2-1 final in the 2006 Round of 16 in extra time. Mexico have just one win in 13 matches against Conmebol teams at the World Cup.

Juan Roman Riquelme and Maxi Rodriguez of Argentina figth for the posession against Mexico´s Gerardo Torrado in in the round of 16 of the 2006 FIFA World Cup on May 24, 2006 at the Zentralstadion Leipzig, Germany.

Mexico will then close their group stage campaign on November 30 against Saudi Arabia in what will be a first-ever World Cup match-up. El Tricolor faced the AFC side three times in the FIFA Confederations Cup, however, with Mexico winning all three encounters, 2-0 in 1995, 5-0 in 1997 and 5-1 in 1999.

It will also be a chance for Mexico to maintain their perfect record against AFC opposition, having won their four previous meetings against Asian sides.

After a successful qualifying campaign and strong performances in recent tournaments, like winning the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup and earning a Bronze Medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a Mexico side with a blend of rising stars and savvy veterans will try to lead Mexico on its deepest run yet.