Javier Aguirre is currently working with 24 players in training camp as they fight for a spot with the national team.
The squad breaks camp todayAguirre intends to keep evaluating playersNo friendly match scheduled in the microcycleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?
Hugo Sánchez, one of Mexico’s greatest football icons, has expressed doubts over the usefulness of current mini-camp under Javier Aguirre. The former Real Madrid striker argued that short three-day gatherings without competitive matches offer little benefit – neither for nor for the clubs that release their players.
Unlike a FIFA window, this camp only includes players from Liga MX that Aguirre wants to evaluate more closely. The idea is to keep certain names in consideration for upcoming call-ups, including a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
“As a coach of the national team, I went through that experience,” Sánchez said in an ESPN appearance. “I’ve never understood holding a camp without a game. When you train players for two or three days and then play, it makes sense. But without a match, you’re left incomplete.”
Advertisement@MiSeleccionMXTHE BIGGER PICTURE
This week’s camp is the first of two that Aguirre and his staff pitched to the Mexican Football Federation as part of their long-term preparation for the 2026 World Cup. The second is scheduled for February 2026.
@MiSeleccionMXWHAT HUGO SÁNCHEZ SAID
The Real Madrid and Mexico legend stressed that the competitive edge cannot be replicated in training sessions, criticizing Aguirre’s decision to call players for this three-day minicamp.
“What you work on in training, the players will end up applying with their clubs, not with the national team,” Sanchez said.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?
While this microcycle concludes without a match, Mexico’s next official test will come in September’s FIFA window, when El Tri face Japan and South Korea in friendlies. Those games will serve as valuable opportunities for players to stake their claim for a World Cup roster spot.