Mexico’s goalkeeper Ochoa poised for historic sixth World Cup appearance

Mexican star Guillermo Ochoa is poised to become the first goalkeeper to appear in six World Cup finals after being named in the co‑hosts’ squad.

The 40‑year‑old, who plays for Cypriot side AEL Limassol, joins superstars Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Argentina’s Lionel Messi in representing their countries for a sixth time at the quadrennial football festival.

While Ronaldo and Messi are the automatic first choices, Ochoa is unlikely to see much game time as he has fallen down the pecking order in recent years.

Ochoa, whose first World Cup was in Germany in 2006, headlines the squad alongside forwards Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez, who play for Premier League club Fulham and Serie A giants AC Milan respectively.

Two of the squad named on Sunday—Spain‑born midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo and Colombia‑born forward Julián Quílez—have become pivotal players for the Javier Aguirre‑coached team since being naturalised.

Gilberto Mora, the talented 17‑year‑old attacking midfielder, is set to become the youngest player to represent Mexico at a World Cup.

For Aguirre, 67, it will be his third World Cup in charge, having been in the dugout at the 2002 and 2010 renewals. On both occasions the team failed to progress beyond the group stage, but this time they hope to follow the sides of 1970 and 1986—when they also hosted the finals—in reaching the last eight.

Mexico, who are co‑hosting with Canada and the US, play in the tournament’s opening game against South Africa on 11 June in Mexico City. They then face South Korea on 18 June and round off the group stage against the Czech Republic on 24 June.

Mexico squad:

Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol, CYP), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)

Defenders: Israel Reyes (America), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK/GRE), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Johan Vásquez (Genoa/ITA), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chávez (Alkmaar/NED)

Midfielders: Edson Álvarez (West Ham/ENG), Luis Romo (Guadalajara), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Brian Gutiérrez (Guadalajara), Órbelín Pineda (AEK Athens/GRE), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), César Huerta (Anderlecht/BEL), Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis/ESP), Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow/RUS).

Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julián Quílez (Al‑Qadisiyah, KSA), Santiago Giménez (AC Milan/ITA), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Armando González (Guadalajara), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham/ENG)

AFP

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