The players
Star man
Oribe Peralta, of América in his homeland, has scored 10 times in his past 10 outings for El Tri. He weighed in with five of Mexico's goals in the 9-3 aggregate play-off victory over New Zealand that booked their ticket to Brazil. The hosts will not look forward to meeting up with the 30-year-old striker again: Peralta's two goals won the 2012 Olympic final for Mexico, and ensured Brazil still have a five-ring-shaped hole on their CV.
One for the Premier League
All-action midfielder Héctor Herrera has been variously nicknamed "El Zorro" (the fox) and "El Zorrillo" (the skunk) but his performances for his country certainly don't stink. It may smooth the wheels that the agent who handled his move from Pachuca to Porto last year knows England pretty well – he's Nicky Blair, Tony's son.
The bad boy
Carlos Vela, whose continued refusal to accept a call-up severely weakens a squad not blessed with quality. The 25-year-old, formerly of Arsenal, has been in form for Real Sociedad, to the point where Liverpool are now sniffing around. "He'd be no use to us anyway because he's not focused on the job," sniffs coach Miguel Herrera.
The weakest link
It depends which Rafa Márquez turns up – the creaking centre-back who struggled in the MLS with New York Red Bulls, or the veteran former Barcelona player who just helped León to the league title.
The coach
When appointed last October Herrera was his nation's fourth manager in six weeks. "This is a crisis situation," said the federation's president at the time, but some stability has returned. Mexico, a land of nickname abundance, hails him as "The Louse". We presume it's affectionate, as it would be a bad idea to wind him up – you wouldn't like him when he's angry. A runner-up at the 1993 Copa America as a player, his high point in management is a league title with América.
Tactics
Not a vintage Mexico side. The historical big boys of the north and central American region, they scraped into the qualifying play-offs because Panama conceded two stoppage-time goals against USA, and then pipped New Zealand to book their place in the finals. Stoic, damage-limiting defence was the order of the day against Italy and Brazil in last year's Confederations Cup. Expect more of the same, with three in the middle at the back, though the wing-backs will occasionally push forward in the hope that Peralta achieves something of note. Herrera has had only a few months in charge but has so far continued with the three-centre-backs, marauding-full-back set-up he used at club level.
Grudge match
Mexico have the historical upper hand over neighbours the United States, though the balance of power has been shifting in recent years, with the US beginning to take soccer more seriously. USA won the only match between the two sides at a World Cup finals, a 2-0 success in 2002, and Mexico still have not quite got over it. But the reaction to USA's part in their qualification – headlines in the Mexican press read "God Bless America" and "Thanks, Tío Sam" – suggests a certain rapprochement.
Holed up
Mexico will pitch camp in Santos, in the south of Brazil. They had better soak up plenty of that old Pelé energy, for all of their group games are taking place in the north-east.