Mexico Defeat Ghana 2-0 in Important World Cup Tune-Up
Brian Gutierrez #26 Celebrating first goal of the game. (Photo By: @Miseleccionmx)
El Tri Start Strong in Puebla
Mexico continued its World Cup preparations with a solid 2-0 victory over Ghana on Friday night at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla. Playing in front of a loud home crowd, El Tri controlled much of the match and showed positive signs as the team gets closer to announcing its final World Cup roster.
The match served as one of Mexico’s final preparation games before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, giving head coach Javier Aguirre another opportunity to evaluate players competing for spots on the final 26-man squad.
Jesus Gallardo #23 battling a ball. (Photo By: @Miseleccionmx)
Brian Gutiérrez Opens the Scoring Early
Mexico wasted little time taking control of the match after finding the opening goal just two minutes into the game. Brian Gutiérrez reacted quickly after Ghana failed to fully clear the ball and fired a low shot into the net to give El Tri an early 1-0 advantage.
The fast start immediately boosted Mexico’s confidence as they continued creating dangerous attacking chances throughout the first half. Gil Mora nearly added a second goal after striking the post, while Alexis Vega also found the back of the net before the play was ruled offside.
Mexico’s attack looked sharp and aggressive during long stretches of the opening half, moving the ball quickly and forcing Ghana’s defense into several mistakes.
Ghana Responds in the Second Half
After struggling during parts of the first half, Ghana came out with more energy after halftime and began creating better opportunities going forward. The Black Stars nearly equalized early in the second half after testing goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo multiple times and even hitting the crossbar during one dangerous attacking sequence.
Mexico’s defense, however, stayed organized during the pressure and managed to keep Ghana off the scoreboard despite the visitors improving offensively.
The match also marked one of the first games under Ghana’s new coaching staff following the recent appointment of experienced manager Carlos Queiroz.
Memo Martinez Scores the second goal of the night. (Photo By: @Miseleccionmx)
Guillermo Martínez Doubles the Lead
Mexico responded well after surviving Ghana’s pressure and added a second goal in the 54th minute. Guillermo Martínez finished off a fast counterattack after coming off the bench, giving El Tri a comfortable 2-0 lead and helping calm the pace of the game.
The goal allowed Mexico to regain control of possession and slow down Ghana’s momentum during the remainder of the second half.
Several Europe-based Mexican players also made appearances later in the match after recently joining camp, including Edson Álvarez, Jorge Sánchez, and Luis Chávez as preparations continue for the World Cup.
Mexico’s Starting XI vs Ghana. (Photo By: @Miseleccionmx)
Positive Signs Before the Final Roster Announcement
Overall, Mexico delivered one of its stronger performances during the current preparation camp. The team showed energy in attack, defensive discipline, and good chemistry throughout most of the night.
Young players fighting for final roster spots also took advantage of the opportunity, giving Javier Aguirre difficult decisions ahead of the official squad announcement expected by June 1.
Despite partial stadium closures due to FIFA sanctions from previous fan incidents, the atmosphere in Puebla remained lively and supportive throughout the match.
Alexis Vega #10 pushing the tempo. (Photo By: @Miseleccionmx)
Next Match Set for Los Angeles
With the victory over Ghana completed, Mexico will now shift its focus toward its next preparation match against Australia in Los Angeles next week.
The upcoming friendly is expected to be another important test as El Tri continues fine-tuning the squad before opening its World Cup campaign this summer.