The Mexican team is fine-tuning the final details before the start of the 2026 World Cup. Javier Aguirre and El Tri will have a complex duel against the Serbian team. Veljko Paunovic is the coach of this European team. The former Chivas coach praised the capabilities of the Aztec team.

Mexico will face Serbia at the Nemesio Diez Stadium in Toluca. The match against the Serbians will serve as preparation for the matches in the first round of the World Cup. Serbia can be compared with the Czech Republic, one of El Tri's rivals.

But the Serbian team's coach knows the Mexican team very well. Veljko Paunovic has measured Aztec football due to his past in Liga MX. Paunovic praised the qualities of Javier Aguirre's team.

"Mexico is a team that is really very strong at home, it is a team that has had, I think, about 17 or 18 games without conceding a goal, from set pieces, very strong defensive, it also defends the area very well, but above all what they stand out for is the frenetic attacks supported by their fans, here in Mexico they are very difficult to debate, a lot of individual quality on the field of play," he explained.

Veljko Paunovic referred, in the entire context of the match, to how influential the support of the fans can be. This is a factor to take into account in El Tri's next matches. Mexico will do the entire first round of the World Cup in its country, under the warmth of its people.

Knowledge of Mexico

Veljko Paunovic had a couple of internships in Mexican soccer. The European strategist directed the Chivas de Guadalajara and the Tigres de la UANL. Paunovic has a remarkable knowledge base that could work in his favor for this commitment.

“I think there were or are six players with whom I worked, therefore there is a knowledge and also a personal relationship,” he added.

This will be the second time that Serbians and Mexicans face each other in a match. The first time was in a friendly duel in 2011. On that occasion, El Tri won 2-0.