Goodbye Ochoa? Chivas keeper makes Mexico mark
Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel is in great form for Mexico, having kept a clean sheet in his last four international games as a starter.
Raúl Rangel once again stood out in Mexico’s scoreless draw against Portugal, posting another clean sheet for El Tri and strengthening his case to be the starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup.
The Chivas Guadalajara keeper has emerged as one of Mexico’s major revelations, showing confidence, sharp reflexes and on‑field leadership in key moments. Rangel’s performances have been essential in keeping the Mexicans defensively organized.
A streak that inspires optimism
Over his last four starts, “Tala” has kept a clean sheet in every match - an impressive run that highlights his current form and fuels growing optimism heading into the 2026 World Cup.
During this streak, Mexico picked up notable wins: a 1-0 victory over Panama, another 1-0 result against Bolivia, and a dominant 4-0 thrashing of Iceland, combining defensive stability with a potent attack.
However, the most recent outing ended in a 0-0 draw with Portugal, a result that left a mixed impression. Despite the clean sheet, Mexico showed areas in need of improvement, especially in chance creation and attacking fluidity.
Who do Mexico play next?
Mexico’s next test comes on Tuesday, March 31, when they face Belgium in their final match of the FIFA international window — a key opportunity to continue evaluating the team’s progress.
With sights set on the team’s World Cup opener against South Africa, in Mexico City on June 11, Rangel keeps building his résumé to become El Tri’s starting goalkeeper on home soil.
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