Having already secured the leading position in Group A, and looking ahead to the knockout stages, Mexico takes on a Czechia side still battling for World Cup knockout phase qualification on the final matchday. Mexico has six points from wins over South Africa and South Korea, Czechia is sitting on 2 points after a pair of draws against those same teams. We offer team news and predictions for this matchup, including news that Guillermo Ochoa will start in goal.
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Mexico vs Czechia
Date: Wednesday June 24th, 2026
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Kick Off: 21:00 local time in Mexico City
Referee: Yael Falcon Perez
Current Odds: Mexico 1.90, Draw 3.75, Czechia 3.20
Mexico Team News
25.5 million Mexican residents alone watched the second group stage game where Mexico secured first place in Group A via a lone goal from Luis Romo. El Tri is currently carrying the heartbeat of a nation after their compelling start to the 2026 World Cup.
With this game only impacting morale, but Mexico still wanting to impress at Estadio Azteca, there will be changes for Javier ‘Vasco’ Aguirre’s side. Out of form striker Santiago Gimenez will start ahead of Raul Jimenez.
Gimenez was quoted by Azteca Deportes “It was something beautiful (to play in the World Cup), since the morning I asked God to be what he wanted, the minutes he wanted. If I didn’t have to play, he should give me the patience to face these situations, but it’s the most magical thing that can happen to you.”
In the midfield, Luis Romo would likely return after he scored the pivotal goal against South Korea, that leaves Gilberto Mora, Alvaro Fidalgo, Obed Vargas and Brian Gutierrez fighting for minutes, with the young guns Mora and Vargas on deck to possibly earn valuable World Cup experience.
Edson Alvarez would be the one returning to the bench if Montes returns.
In the backline, Cesar Montes is set to return from his red card suspension and start at CB. The biggest headline is between the sticks, while Raul ‘Tala’ Rangel was pivotal in the win against South Korea, literally saving the match at multiple instances, it’s 40-year-old Guillermo Ochoa who is tipped by many pundits and insiders to start in his 6th FIFA World Cup. Ochoa won’t be starting because Rangel is being pulled, rather this is an opportunity to give him a legacy sendoff game at Estadio Azteca and rest Rangel for the knockout stage.
Ochoa is one of Mexico’s greatest ever players, his heroic performances have lifted El Tri for multiple generations. Ochoa was quoted in a recent interview with FIFA “I can’t imagine my career without the national team. I don’t know what my career would be like without the national team. And now that my time with the national team is ending, I don’t see any more meaning in football, I don’t see any more meaning in continuing to play. I don’t see the point in keeping on playing.”
With Mexico having a diverse set of outfield options, Aguirre has a lot of choice with who will start.
Czechia Team News
Playing Mexico at Estadio Azteca is never easy, and under the circumstances, Czechia can’t afford to simply burrow in and hope to survive, rather they need to go and try to win the game. David Jurasek is out of the tournament, but beyond that there’s no obvious or announced XI changes for Miroslav Koubek yet.
Prior to the tournament, Koubek had told the media Mexico was the toughest team in Group A “the match against Mexico is going to be the most difficult, but it is obvious that they are the favorites”
His opinion is unlikely to have changed after the first two matchdays. This is a Czechia side that defend with stability, but have offered little going forward in open play, and mainly look to score from set pieces. Key striker Patrik Schick is yet to find form, and he’s needed to lift his country into the knockout phase.
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Mexico Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
GK: Guillermo Ochoa
Defenders: Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, Jesus Gallardo
Midfield: Erik Lira, Luis Romo, Brian Guiterrez
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Gimenez, Julian Quinones
Czechia Predicted Lineup (3-5-2)
GK: Matej Kovar
Defenders: Robin Hranac, Tomas Holes, Ladislav Krejci
Midfield: Vladimir Coufal, Michal Sadilek, Tomas Soucek, Pavel Sulc, Alexandr Sojka
Forwards: Adam Hlozek, Patrik Schick
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
