SOCCER: Goalkeeper Ochoa returns to Mexican squad for World Cup warm-ups

MEXICO CITY – Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is back in the Mexico national team, receiving a call-up from coach Javier Aguirre for this month’s World Cup warm-up matches against Portugal and Belgium.

The 40-year-old, who plays for Limassol in Cyprus, is aiming to appear in his sixth World Cup after participating in five consecutive tournaments from 2006 to 2022 in Qatar. Ochoa had not been called up since May 2025, when he was named to the Gold Cup squad but did not see playing time.

The squad also features Spanish-born midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo, who joined LaLiga club Real Betis in February after five years with Club America in Mexico.

Mexico will face Portugal on March 28 in the reopening of Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium following its World Cup renovations, then take on Belgium on March 31 at Soldier Field in Chicago. As co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, Mexico will open the tournament in Group A against South Africa on June 11.

Mexico Squad:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Limassol), Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)

Defenders: Richard Ledezma (Guadalajara), Jorge Sanchez (PAOK), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Israel Reyes (America), Johan Vasquez (Genoa), Everardo Lopez (Toluca), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Jesus Angulo (Tigres UANL)

Midfielders: Denzell Garcia (Bravos de Ciudad Juarez), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Obed Vargas (Atletico Madrid), Alvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis), Orbelin Pineda (AEK Athens), Erick Sanchez (America), Brian Gutierrez (Guadalajara)

Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Armando Gonzalez (Guadalajara), German Berterame (Inter Miami), Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Guillermo Martinez (Pumas UNAM), Raul Jimenez (Fulham)

-Reporting by Carlos Calvo Pacheco, writing by Janina Nuno Rios; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman/Reuters