Mexico's 2025 Rollercoaster: From Triumphant Highs to Crushing Lows

El Tri found itself in complete disarray at the beginning of the year, struggling through Javier Aguirre's tenure after his return as Mexico's fourth head coach in under two years. With the 2026 World Cup looming larger, Mexico urgently needed to get back on track.

Aguirre arrived with a clear objective to help Mexico regain its identity in 2025, aiming to rebuild confidence in a squad that had been marked by disappointments since the decade began. The team proceeded to compete in 18 matches throughout the following 12 months, securing nine victories, suffering four defeats, and recording five draws.

The statistics present a positive outlook for El Tri, and although 2025 was undoubtedly the country's most productive year of the 2020s, it wasn't without its flaws. As Mexico's attention now turns completely toward the June 11 clash against South Africa in the 2026 World Cup opener, the experiences gained this past year will be vital to El Tri's performance next summer.

Sports Illustrated examines the highs and lows of Mexico's national team throughout 2025, as El Tri prepares for what they hope will be a memorable 2026.

Top Mexico National Team Highlights

Conquering the USMNT to Secure 2025 Gold Cup

Before this summer, Mexico's last triumph over the U.S. men's national team in competitive action occurred during the 2019 Gold Cup final. In the years that followed, the squad managed only one tie while enduring five losses to their fierce adversaries. That disappointing run ended decisively in the 2025 Gold Cup final.

Mexico controlled the USMNT and rallied from a deficit to beat them 2–1 in the championship match. Aguirre's squad capped off a successful tournament by thoroughly outclassing Mauricio Pochettino's team, as Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez nullified Chris Richards's opening goal.

In numerous aspects, the Gold Cup final showcased Mexico's finest moments of 2025. Jiménez maintained his excellent scoring streak, Mexico's backline neutralized the USMNT, and Marcel Ruiz solidified his status as a reliable midfield option for Aguirre.

However, perhaps the most encouraging development from the final—and arguably the entire year—was the breakthrough showing of then 16-year-old Gilberto Mora, who commanded attention in just his third senior national team appearance. The Tijuana midfielder demonstrated he's completely prepared for international competition that day, and his subsequent displays left no question: he possesses the ability to be a game-changer in El Tri's 2026 aspirations.

Reestablishing Mexico's regional supremacy was among the objectives Aguirre aimed to accomplish in 2025. Capturing the Gold Cup against the USMNT served as the emphatic conclusion to achieving that target, though the team actually initiated progress four months earlier.

Raul Jimenez Guides Mexico Back to Concacaf Peak in Nations League Finals

During March, Mexico claimed the first of two championships in 2025, capturing the Concacaf Nations League for the inaugural time thanks to an exceptional display by the standout performer of the Aguirre period: Jiménez.

A commanding 2–0 triumph over Canada in the semifinals preceded a thrilling—yet well-earned—2–1 victory against Panama in the final. All four goals Mexico netted came from Jiménez, including a spectacular free-kick against Canada and a stoppage-time, game-winning penalty in the championship.

Following years in the background after a life-threatening injury during his stint at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020, Jiménez rediscovered his peak form in 2025. His resurgence was validated in the Nations League finals and represents one of the most uplifting stories in El Tri's recent memory. Currently, Mexico's World Cup aspirations clearly depend heavily on his contributions.

Claiming the tournament held additional significance as well. Aguirre required this trophy to boost the morale of a team that had become associated with disappointment in recent years.

With El Tri subsequently capturing the previously mentioned Gold Cup, Mexico reclaimed the uncontested leadership of Concacaf, a position it has held throughout most of its history.

Lowest Mexico National Team Points

Humiliating Loss to Colombia Exposes Year-End Struggles

It's reasonable to state that the encouraging developments for El Tri concluded following the Gold Cup. What ensued was a terrible year-end period best exemplified by the 4–0 loss to Colombia in October, where El Tri was completely outmatched in every department.

Colombia inflicted Mexico's heaviest defeat during the Aguirre era, revealing every significant weakness El Tri continues to possess. Missing the injured Jiménez and Mora, who was competing at the U-20 World Cup, Mexico appeared unable to create any threats, managing only two shots on target throughout the match.

El Tri's defensive unit had been the cornerstone of its achievements under Aguirre, but Colombia sliced through it effortlessly, capitalizing on mental lapses that characterized the reigns of Aguirre's predecessors. The issue, which Mexico believed it had already resolved, reemerged during the year's final months.

The loss to Colombia contributed to the team's surprising six-match winless run to end the year, having failed to secure victory in any contest following the Gold Cup final.

Certainly, Mexico returned to Concacaf's apex in 2025, but it also managed just one victory in eight matches against teams from other confederations, a concerning pattern with the World Cup approaching rapidly.

It also became evident that Mexico remains unable to handle teams with superior individual talent. The only solution is for El Tri's collective effort to compensate for the absence of game-changing ability, though that may prove challenging to execute.

Significant Injuries Threaten World Cup Squad

This represents more of a pattern than a single incident, but several Mexico national team players who were anticipated to contribute in the 2026 World Cup have sustained serious injuries during 2025's second half.

It's widely recognized that Mexico's present generation of national team players falls short of being the most gifted in El Tri's recent past. Aguirre has faced a shortage of quality players since assuming control and, despite breakthroughs like Mora, injuries have also substantially hindered Mexico in 2025.

Luis Chávez was Mexico's top performer at the 2022 World Cup and had been a consistent selection since, but an ACL tear sustained during the summer has threatened his ability to repeat that showing in 2026.

Likewise, Rodrigo Huescas was among Mexico's exceptional players during September's international fixtures and appeared ready to compete for the starting right-back position next summer. Now, his World Cup aspirations are virtually finished after suffering the same injury as Chávez, tearing his ACL in early October.

Adding to the concerns, Jesús Orozco, the sole natural left-footed center-back Aguirre had evaluated in recent training camps to support Johan Vásquez, sustained a serious ankle injury in December and is projected to miss six months.

Alexis Vega and Santiago Giménez are additional crucial players who have encountered fitness problems in recent months. Suddenly, an already restricted selection of options has diminished further.

For a squad that wasn't already abundant with talent, injuries have deteriorated the circumstances late in 2025. El Tri cannot afford additional player losses, or its hopes for a historic World Cup run in 2026 could be entirely eliminated before the tournament begins.