Chicharito sees a World Cup opportunity for Mexico that others might overlook

The knockout bracket at the 2026 World Cup is beginning to take shape, with Mexico, the United States and Germany already officially qualified for the Round of 32, even before the second round of group-stage games has been fully completed.

That situation has sparked debate across the media over whether teams that have already secured their place in the next round should rotate their squads for the final group match, particularly when qualification and first place in the group are already guaranteed.

Among those weighing in is former Mexico striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernández, the national team’s all-time leading scorer. Now working as an analyst for Fox Sports in the United States, Hernández believes coaches should take advantage of the situation by making changes to their starting lineups. In his view, doing so would not only allow key players to rest but would also reward the wider squad and reinforce the collective value of the group.

Chicharito calls for World Cup squad rotation

Hernández was clear in his assessment.

“You have to give the other players an opportunity. I understand the momentum, but there is also a time when you need to rest players that you may need later on. You can give them playing time, an opportunity, even a World Cup debut. That helps the entire team feel valued and, if afterward you decide to go back to your regular players, that’s fine too.

“The most important thing is not to risk the starters, but also to give the rest of the squad momentum and playing time so they can be ready if you need them at some point.”

The comments came during a discussion about the U.S. men’s national team, but the same argument has quickly been applied to Mexico’s situation.

With El Tri already guaranteed first place in Group A, much of the discussion has centered on whether head coach Javier Aguirre should hand opportunities to players who have yet to feature, such as Guillermo Martínez and Mateo Chávez, while also increasing the role of young midfielder Gilberto Mora.

The Guillermo Ochoa question

The player generating the most attention, however, is veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who is part of Mexico’s squad for a sixth World Cup.

With Mexico’s final group game set to be played at the Estadio Ciudad de México, some see the occasion as a fitting farewell appearance for one of the country’s most iconic players.

Yet the decision is not entirely straightforward. While the result carries little significance for Mexico’s own position, it could still influence the wider tournament picture, including whether a team advances from Group A as one of the best third-place finishers.

Ultimately, the final call belongs to Aguirre, who must balance sentiment, squad management and competitive integrity as Mexico prepares for the knockout rounds.

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