Fidalgo regains his good luck charm on eve of World Cup
The midfielder will wear again the number with which he conquered glory in Mexico. Álvaro will be involved tonight against Australia.
Football is full of superstitions, and Álvaro Fidalgo may not be a man of many. However, it is undeniable that Mexican football witnessed his finest moments while the number 8 jersey rested on his back. Tonight, the Hispano-Mexican will have the honour of wearing that same shirt again, this time with the Tricolor, in Mexico’s penultimate rehearsal against Australia ahead of the World Cup.
According to Gibrán Araige, El Maguito will take to the field tonight wearing the shirt that made him famous in Mexico, following the omission of Carlos Rodríguez from the World Cup camp. Javier Aguirre’s side will play 90 of the final 180 available minutes before the opening match against South Africa, and this will also be their last showcase before tomorrow, Sunday 31 May, when the final 26-man squad representing the country at the 2026 World Cup is announced.
Although a line-up for tonight has not yet been confirmed, it is highly likely that Álvaro will see some minutes on the pitch. His position remains one of the most contested in this call-up, with internal competition from names such as Brian Gutiérrez, Orbelín Pineda, Luis Romo, and Obed Vargas.
The Asturian arrived in Mexico with Club América in Clausura 2021 as a signing by Santiago Solari. That semester he wore number 22; however, for the following tournament he inherited the number 8 from Alfonso Escoboza. With that number, he established himself in the country, winning three league titles, two Campeón de Campeones, and one Campeones Cup. In his debut and first minutes with the national team, he has worn 19. We will see whether the number that once defined his club success can now accompany him towards new glories.
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