Top five players left out of Mexico’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final squad ft. German Berterame
El Tri to battle South Africa in their opening fixture.
The Mexico national football team are preparing well for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They are coming in after securing an easy 1-0 win against Australia in their international friendly encounter.
For their last friendly encounter ahead of the mega competition, Javier Aguirre’s men are going to take on Serbia and they will be looking to keep their winning run going.
El Tri have announced their final list of players for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Top players like Fulham’s Raul Jimenez and the veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa are included, but some stars have not received a call-up.
Also Read: Mexico name 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Raul Jimenez
Top players left out of Mexico’s World Cup squad
| Players | Clubs |
| German Berterame | Inter Miami |
| Marcel Ruiz | Deportivo Toluca |
| Julián Araujo | Celtic FC |
| Diego Lainez | Tigres UANL |
| Carlos Rodríguez | Cruz Azul |
German Berterame
Lionel Messi’s teammate at Inter Miami CF, German Berterame, has been performing well for the MLS side this season. In 15 games, he has scored seven goals, but has not been included in Mexico’s final squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The competition for places might be one of the reasons Berterame did not get the call-up.
Marcel Ruiz
The Deportivo Toluca playmaker has not been in top form this season. Even though he has three goals and four assists for his club this season, Marcel Ruiz has failed to perform consistently. Lately, he has been dealing with injuries and might not be fully fit to represent the Mexico national football team on the world stage.
Julián Araujo
The 24-year-old right-back has failed to recover from injury in time and has hence not received a call-up from Javier Aguirre to be a part of Mexico’s final squad. With his skills on the field, he might have contributed well for El Tri.
Diego Lainez
Diego Lainez has played a total of 33 games for the Mexico national football team and has scored three goals. He is still not included in the final 26-man contingent. The reason can be his decline in performance and competition for places.
Carlos Rodríguez
Carlos Rodríguez has shockingly not been called up to represent Mexico at the grandest stage of them all. He has made 68 appearances for the national team. The 29-year-old playmaker has been in decent form this season and competition for places might have left him out.
Will Guillermo Ochoa play in FIFA World Cup 2026?
Yes, the veteran goalkeeper has been added to the final squad.
Who will Mexico face in group stage of FIFA World Cup 2026?
South Korea, Czechia and South Africa.
Who is the head coach of the Mexico national football team?
Javier Aguirre.
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Dilpreet is a dedicated football writer with a keen eye for World Football. As a proud Real Madrid fan, we believe his work reflects the same ambition and precision. Since joining Khel Now in 2025, he has crafted stories beyond scores, diving into tactics, culture, and emotion. With a strong background in content writing, he blends clarity with creativity, always aiming to bring the beautiful game closer to readers.