Mexico's Shocking February Roster Snub Reveals Bombshell World Cup Strategy

Mexico's national squad will advance its preparations for the 2026 World Cup during February's final week with a friendly match against Iceland on Wednesday, and Javier Aguirre has revealed the squad list for this encounter, sparking some surprise with several choices, notably the exclusion of Diego Lainez.

Similar to Mexico's January training camp where they achieved victories over Panama and Bolivia, Aguirre's selection consists entirely of Liga MX athletes. Since there's no FIFA international window in February, overseas-based players will stay with their respective clubs while El Tri contests its third fixture of 2026.

Aguirre personally advocated for Mexico to schedule a match this month, enabling him to evaluate domestic talent before the March international friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, where the coach disclosed he anticipates bringing "over 80% of the potential World Cup squad."

Liga MX frontrunners Chivas remain the primary talent source for El Tri, contributing seven players to the selection. One particular player stands out among February's surprising call-ups, as Aguirre provides some final chances for players to secure spots in World Cup planning.

New Additions to El Tri's February Squad

New Additions to El Tri's February Squad

Efraín Álvarez had been completely overlooked by Aguirre since failing to earn any playing time at the 2025 Gold Cup. The offensive midfielder has been a crucial component in Chivas' rise as Liga MX's top team, prompting many to question Aguirre's choice to apparently remove him from World Cup consideration.

Though it may be too late, Álvarez's well-deserved spot in the February squad creates a narrow opportunity for him to transfer his club performance to the national level and persuade Aguirre to at least reconsider him for the March international window.

Likewise, Chivas center-back Diego Campillo has excelled while substituting for injured Luis Romo, and his recent form could secure his international debut and opportunity to make an impression. The same applies to Tigres fullback Jesús Garza, who finally reached his potential at 25 and appears ready for his El Tri debut.

Pumas forward Guillermo Martínez returns to El Tri for the first time since last summer, though his World Cup roster inclusion seems unlikely.

However, all these unexpected inclusions are overshadowed by Lainez's notable absence.

The Significant Omission from Mexico's February Squad

The Significant Omission from Mexico's February Squad

Lainez has ranked among Liga MX's finest players during the last two seasons, irrespective of nationality. The dynamic winger was vital to Tigres' journey to the Apertura 2025 final and had established himself as an El Tri regular since last summer.

Following challenging years, the 25-year-old finally realized his complete potential and appeared destined to cap his career revival with his first World Cup participation. While this remains possible, his February roster exclusion creates doubt about Lainez's El Tri future.

Aguirre will undoubtedly face questions about this choice in upcoming days, as it's difficult to comprehend and defend Lainez's absence on the surface, particularly in an all-Liga MX selection. Recent performances had fostered growing confidence that Lainez could start against South Africa in Mexico's 2026 World Cup opener. His roster omission appears absurd.

Perhaps Aguirre has evaluated Lainez sufficiently and no longer requires assessment, providing chances to other less-observed players. But if the Tigres playmaker is also excluded from El Tri's March roster, then Lainez's World Cup aspirations would, remarkably, appear finished.

Complete Mexico National Team Squad for February 2026

Complete Mexico National Team Squad for February 2026

Goalkeepers

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

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READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE

Roberto Casillas is a Sports Illustrated FC freelance writer covering Liga MX, the Mexican National Team & Latin American players in Europe. He is a die hard Cruz Azul and Chelsea fan.