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When Javier Aguirre was a player, he believed Mexico’s grueling, year-long training camp ahead of the 1986 World Cup was the key to El Tri’s run to the quarter-finals – matching its best result.
As coach of the national team, he tries to copy that vintage formula.
Unlike most competing nations, which must wait for domestic leagues to finish before assembling their squads, Mexico began assembling its players more than a month before its opening World Cup match on June 11 against South Africa – pulling them away from their squads while Liga MX was underway.
“This is a project, not a whim – it’s a project to try to make this a great World Cup,” says Aguirre. “We concluded that once we were at home and had these magnificent facilities, we had to be well prepared in every way. That meant having them ready five weeks before the World Cup.”
The 67-year-old manager, who steered Mexico into the World Cup for the third time, was an integral part of the 1986 squad that beat Belgium and Bulgaria and lost to eventual finalists West Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals.
The only other time El Tri reached that stage was in 1970, also at home.
“Being part of the national team and being able to play a World Cup on home soil is priceless,” Aguirre says of the 48-team tournament, which Mexico is co-hosting with the United States and Canada.
A modern dilemma
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MAY 20: Players from Mexico listen to their head coach Javier Aguirre (C) during a training session at CAR on May 20, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)
Modern football presents challenges that did not exist in 1986. While that Mexico team had only one star in Europe – Real Madrid icon Hugo Sánchez – the current pool boasts 14 players competing in Europe.
To secure his domestic players early, Aguirre had to convince the owners of the 18 Liga MX first division teams that an extended camp was the only way to stand out at home. His plan was approved last December and the gates to the training ground opened on May 6 with an initial group of 12 domestic players.
Still, the strategy has drawn criticism from prominent figures in Mexican football, notably former national team manager Ricardo La Volpe, who led El Tri to the round of 16 at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
“I’m really surprised and I have a lot of respect for Javier Aguirre, but I don’t understand him for a simple reason: firstly, he doesn’t have most of the players, which makes the training sessions pointless,” argued La Volpe. “I’d say if you can’t work with everybody, you have to let the players use the domestic endgame to keep their match rhythm.”
Collection of the pieces
Mexico midfielder Erik Lira (C) and defender Johan Vasquez (R) take part in a training session with head coach Javier Aguirre ahead of their friendly match against the Portuguese national team in Mexico City March 26, 2026. Mexico will play a friendly match against Portugal on March 28 at Banorte Stadium (formerly known as Mexico City Stadium) in Mexico City. (Photo by Luis CORTES/AFP via Getty Images)
Due to the staggered arrivals, Aguirre initially had to bring in youth academy players as sparring partners to fill his training sessions. Behind the scenes, however, the manager used his deep network and PR savvy to persuade some European clubs to release their Mexican players early.
The policy paid off. At the beginning of last week, Aguirre had 18 of his final 26 players available for a warm-up match against Ghana, which Mexico won 2-0.
Mexico’s intensive preparation continues with friendlies against Australia on Saturday in Pasadena, California, followed by a final test against Serbia in Toluca on June 4 – just a week before the spotlight turns to the high-stakes World Cup opener against South Africa at Azteca Stadium. Mexico also face South Korea and the Czech Republic in Group A.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Mexico failed to advance from its group.
World-class funds
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – MAY 20: Roberto Alvarado and Alexis Vega of Mexico laugh during a training session in CAR on May 20, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)
To ensure optimal preparation, the Mexican Football Federation invested 400 million pesos ($23 million) in a massive renovation of its elite training center, the Centro de Alto Rendimiento on the outskirts of Mexico City.
“This investment reflects our responsibility towards the World Cup,” says federation president Mikel Arriola. “We have built a facility which will provide the national team with the best possible conditions for preparation, at the level of the world’s leading football powers. Hosting a World Cup requires us to raise all our standards, both on and off the pitch.”
Accommodation for the senior team expanded from 20 to 45 private rooms, complemented by new player entertainment lounges.
The crown jewel of the renovation, however, is a state-of-the-art facility that houses a massive fitness center, which ballooned from 1,200 to 6,000 square feet. The new complex also integrates a modernized medical wing, state-of-the-art physiotherapy and hydrotherapy laboratories, changing rooms, coaching offices and a dedicated sports intelligence hub.
Building a brotherhood
Mexico defender Israel Reyes controls the ball during a training session in Mexico City on May 15, 2026. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)
While critics question the tactical wisdom of the extended camp, the players themselves have championed the early lockdown. In addition to the tactical drills, the team views the isolation as a crucible for building chemistry that transcends the field.
“You have to be here to really understand it,” says defenseman Israel Reyes. “People might say it’s a long time to be away, but it helps us really get to know each other.”
For Reyes and his teammates, the long hours spent at the upgraded training center create a collective identity that could prove crucial under the intense pressure of a home tournament.
“That camaraderie in the locker room is crucial because we’re starting to feel like a brotherhood,” Reyes adds. “On the pitch, it changes everything. You’re no longer just defending a teammate – you’re defending your brother.”
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
