The surprise names on Mexico’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Cup
Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has named his 55-man initial squad for the World Cup, which El Tri are co-hosting with Canada and the U.S.
On Tuesday, Mexico’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Cup was unveiled - and it features several surprise names.
Head coach Javier Aguirre released a 55-player list highlighted by a number of inclusions that, for most of the World Cup cycle, had not even been on the national team coach’s radar.
Mexico’s preliminary World Cup roster:
La Selección Nacional de México informa: pic.twitter.com/yLvjd8aA7P
— Selección Nacional (@miseleccionmx) May 12, 2026
So who are the unexpected inclusions?
Among the picks that have raised eyebrows is goalkeeper Alex Padilla, who plays for LaLiga team Athletic Club. Padilla has only featured in Copa del Rey action for Athletic this season, conceding six goals across five appearances.
Isaías Violante, who wasn’t in consideration prior to the Liga MX playoffs, has worked his way into Aguirre’s preliminary list. His standout performances for Club América down the stretch of the Clausura 2026 campaign ultimately earned him a spot among the 55.
Jesús “El Stitch” Angulo, an undisputed starter for Tigres, also made Aguirre’s list. The fullback is currently preparing to compete in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, where Tigres will face Toluca.
Jeremy Márquez of Cruz Azul is another unexpected inclusion. Having gone the entire World Cup cycle without serious consideration, his presence on the list is a direct reflection of his strong current form with La Máquina.
The biggest surprise of all may be Jorge Ruvalcaba, who has taken a major step forward with the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer after departing Pumas.
Luis Rey and Diego Lainez round out Aguirre’s surprise selections. Rey, a Puebla defender, stands out as the club’s lone representative - though it’s well known he’s long been favored by Aguirre.
Lainez, for his part, turns heads after a wave of heated public comments from his camp following his recent omissions by “El Vasco”.
Notable absences
Aguirre included Edson Álvarez (Fenerbahçe), Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow), César Huerta (Anderlecht), Marcel Ruiz (Toluca) and Julián Araujo (Celtic) in the preliminary squad, though all are currently dealing with injuries or fitness concerns ahead of the World Cup.
Due to injury, Rodrigo Huescas is the only player in recovery who did not make the initial roster. According to Transfermarkt, he is not expected back until June 30.
Hirving Lozano, who has not been playing for San Diego FC, was also left off Aguirre’s 55-man list.
Violante added as an emergency call-up
After the roster announcement, the Mexican Soccer Federation confirmed via social media the reason behind Isaías Violante’s inclusion on Aguirre’s list.
According to the official statement, the América defender was added following an injury to Jairo Torres, who suffered a muscle issue in the back of his right thigh. It was also confirmed that Torres will remain in rehabilitation at the national team’s training center through May 21.
Related stories
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.
Complete your personal details to comment