The Mexican team started its participation in the 2026 World Cup on the right foot by defeating South Africa 2-0 in the opening match played at the Azteca Stadium. However, for Javier Aguirre, the positive result did not hide an aspect that was evident during several passages of the match: the nervousness of some footballers due to the magnitude of the scenario.

The Mexican strategist celebrated the first three points of the tournament, although he acknowledged that especially the younger players felt the emotional weight of debuting in a World Cup organized at home.

“It was the start of the World Cup, so we already put our nerves aside and we have these three points that are very good for us,” highlighted the coach.

Aguirre recognizes that the World Cup debut generated pressure on several players

After the match, Javier Aguirre explained that the context of the opening match had an important emotional impact within the squad. He mentioned that playing in front of a packed stadium, with the expectation of millions of fans and the responsibility of opening the tournament caused some elements to not show their best version during certain moments of the match.

"This World Cup is a brutal setting, that makes the legs tremble a little and that makes the player think. The stage is very big. The emotional state, very strong. I think that for some, not all, the stage weighed a little on them. An opening at home is heavy, but they are young and they had to live the experience."

Mexico dominated the game, but missed opportunities

Although the Mexican team achieved a relatively comfortable victory thanks to the scores of Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez, the coaching staff considers that the score could have been wider.

The team generated multiple opportunities in front of the South African goal, but the lack of precision in the final meters prevented the difference from being greater.

For Aguirre, the offensive production was positive, although there is room for improvement in decision-making and forcefulness within the rival area.

"We didn't play well in the first half, but we could have gone 3-0 and no one would have said anything. They only came once. Then we got more complicated. The second goal relaxed us and we were no longer vertical, but for the first game it seems to me that we had a good performance," he stressed.

Javier Aguirre points out the main aspect to correct

Beyond the victory, the national coach made it clear what will be one of the team's priorities for the next matches of the tournament.

The generation of offensive plays was constant, but there was a lack of precision in the last pass and greater forcefulness in front of the rival goal.

"We had 16 arrivals, 12 crosses, but we were not very good in the last third, we must be more specific, we are going to work on that because all the possession we achieved is not enough. We never suffered at the back, so if we had been more forceful the situation would have been calmer," he pointed out.

The next challenge for the Mexican team in the 2026 World Cup

With the first three points in the pocket, the Mexican team is already focusing on its next commitment within the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.

The team led by Javier Aguirre will face South Korea on June 18 at the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, a duel that could bring the team closer to the round of 16.

Later, they will close the first round against the Czech Republic in Mexico City, in a match that could be decisive in defining the final positions of the group.