Uncertainty surrounds Mexico starlet Mora
The Tijuana and Mexico midfielder is recovering from a groin injury - and for now, there is no date set for his return to action.
Gilberto Mora has endured anything but a dream start to the calendar year. In a Clausura 2026 tournament that was supposed to mark the lead‑up to his first World Cup, the Tijuana starlet has been hit by one of the most deceptive injuries in elite sports. The young midfielder is dealing with pubalgia, a groin condition that has sidelined him since mid-January - and for now, there’s no timetable for his return.
Mora is the crown jewel of Mexican soccer. Despite his age, he’s already shining both in Liga MX and with the Mexican national team. Naturally, the 17-year-old is widely expected to be part of Mexico’s final roster for the 2026 World Cup, which El Tri is to co-host this summer with Canada and the United States. But an injury could change everything. His head coach at Tijuana, Sebastián Abreu, is refusing to speculate about Mora’s recovery - to the point that he won’t even hint at a return date.
“There are no dates here”
After Los Xolos’ loss to Toluca on matchday six of the Clausura 2026 on Friday, Abreu was asked about Mora’s status. His answer only fueled more uncertainty: “He’s still in the recovery process, and we’re going to take it day by day based on how he evolves. There are no dates here; the important thing is that he makes it to the World Cup.”
Mora is sidelined with an injury that affects the pubic bone and the groin area. Pubalgia notorious for being unpredictable, often presenting as a chronic, lingering pain that doesn’t follow a clear recovery timeline. Because of that, Mora has shut things down completely. The teenager is about to hit a full month without playing - his last appearance came on January 17, when he logged 45 minutes in Tijuana’s 1–1 draw with Atlético San Luis on matchday three of the Clausura 2026.
Mora agent promises big-money transfer
There’s no rush in Tijuana. The club plans to handle Mora’s situation with patience to ensure he’s at 100% for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 11.
While Mora remains off the pitch, his agent has made sure his name stays very much on the radar. In an interview with Claro Sports, Rafaela Pimenta made it clear that any future transfer will come at a premium: “I’m going to do everything I can to sell Gilberto Mora for a very high price, because if he’s expensive, he’ll be respected.”
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