Mexico Beat Ghana 2-0 in Puebla, Aguirre Warns of Work Ahead Before South Africa Opener
Mexico opened the final stretch of their 2026 World Cup preparation with a 2-0 home win over Ghana at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla. Gilberto Mora impressed on his return from injury and Guillermo "Memote" Martínez scored a stunner from the bench. Javier Aguirre was unconvinced by the pace of the closing stages. El Tri host Australia in Pasadena and Serbia in Toluca before opening the World Cup against South Africa on June 11.
M exico opened the final phase of their World Cup 2026 preparation with a 2-0 home win over Ghana at Puebla's Estadio Cuauhtémoc on Saturday. The scoreline was comfortable enough, but head coach Javier Aguirre left the touchline visibly unimpressed by the closing stages, signalling that the final 19 days before the June 11 opener against South Africa carry meaningful work.
Mora the standout
Gilberto Mora was the night's clearest positive. Back from a recent injury, the young midfielder played with confidence and looked again like one of the most exciting prospects in the Mexico pipeline. His ability to receive between lines and accelerate at defenders gave Mexico a tempo source the senior creators struggled to match in spells.
Memote's stunner
In the second half Aguirre rotated heavily to test different combinations and protect minutes for first-choice starters. The change paid off in the 54th minute when Guillermo "Memote" Martínez fired a powerful finish into the top corner from the edge of the box, doubling the lead and making a case for a tournament-ready substitute weapon.
Boos at the death
The closing stretch dragged. Mexico played at slow tempo, possession felt aimless and the home crowd in Puebla let their dissatisfaction be heard with occasional boos. Aguirre's body language on the touchline mirrored the sentiment: the result is the scoreline that goes in the book, but the performance is the work that goes into the training week.
Two more friendlies before South Africa
Mexico's final preparation continues with Australia at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and Serbia at Estadio Nemesio Díez in Toluca. Both opponents bring a different physical profile to test the defensive shape, and Aguirre is expected to use the two matches to settle the starting eleven for the South Africa opener. The World Cup proper begins on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca.
Reporting: FMF / press box, May 23, 2026.