Fidalgo Played an Hour in Mexico's Friendly Ahead of 2026 World Cup. One week before the start of the 2026 World Cup, Mexico secured a confident win against Serbia. Fidalgo was in the starting lineup and spent 60 minutes on the pitch. His competition with the young Mora could influence the squad selection for the opening match.
The Mexican national team wrapped up their preparations for the home World Cup with a confident victory over Serbia—the match took place at the Nemesio Díez Stadium in Toluca and ended 5:1. A week before the tournament’s kickoff, Javier Aguirre’s squad demonstrated a high level of teamwork, with the key event being the start of Real Betis midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo. He spent exactly an hour on the pitch before being replaced by Luis Chávez.
Fidalgo operated in central midfield alongside Johan Vásquez and Jesús Gallardo, often shifting to the left and helping develop attacks with both short and long passes. In his 60 minutes on the field, he completed 51 out of 54 passes, including six out of seven successful long balls. He received a yellow card in one episode but generally maintained control of the game and sustained the team’s tempo.
A key intrigue remains the battle for a spot in the starting lineup for the opening match against South Africa, which will be held on June 11. According to RUSSPAIN, Fidalgo is competing with 17-year-old Gilberto Mora from Club Tijuana—the youngest participant in World Cup history. Mora has already drawn attention from experts and fans, adding tension to the coaching staff’s selection process.
Friendly matches before major tournaments often serve as a platform for experiments and finding optimal combinations. A similar situation has been observed in other national teams: for example, Croatia and Belgium recently held a key friendly in which coaches also tested new pairings and tactical approaches. Read more about the preparation of European teams in the feature on the international match in Rijeka — details on the preparation process and squad changes.
The 2026 World Cup will be held for the first time across three countries — Mexico, the USA, and Canada. For the Mexican national team, hosting the tournament is an opportunity to cement its status as one of the leading teams in the region. The squad features both seasoned players and young talents, creating extra competition and increasing interest in the opening matches. Attention to preparation details and squad selection could play a crucial role in success during the group stage.
