Rising Mexican Star Makes Groundbreaking Move With 2026 World Cup Dreams in Sight
Mexican national team defender Julián Araujo is departing Bournemouth for the remainder of the campaign to join Scottish giants Celtic on a temporary deal as he seeks regular playing time ahead of the approaching 2026 World Cup.
Consistent defensive errors and fitness issues caused Araujo to slip down Andoni Iraola's pecking order at Bournemouth, resulting in only one outing this season and zero Premier League appearances. Seeking a fresh start, the 24-year-old finalized his move and arrived in Glasgow this week.
Araujo might make his first appearance in Saturday's Old Firm clash against Rangers, which would make him only the second Mexican footballer in Celtic's history after Efraín Juárez.
"I felt tremendous excitement, clearly it's a legendary institution," Araujo expressed during his unveiling press conference. "An organization with a rich winning tradition. I'm thrilled to join, delighted to be here, assist my teammates and hopefully deliver some happiness to the supporters while being eager to contribute.
"I understand the expectations at an institution like Celtic and I'm prepared for them. I'm anticipating the obstacles ahead and want to contribute to delivering positive moments and successful, victorious football to our fans."
The former Barcelona youth product aims to revitalize his career following a challenging period in England. Araujo expressed his desire for "securing maximum game time, contributing to the squad as extensively as possible" during his Scottish loan, which could revive his prospects of representing Mexico at the 2026 World Cup.
Julian Araújo's Journey to Mexico 2026 World Cup Squad
For Araújo to maintain any hope of wearing El Tri colors at the 2026 World Cup, departing Bournemouth was essential. It became evident that Iraola didn't view him as part of his tactical setup, and the fullback's limited action led to his absence from Javier Aguirre's squads since last summer's Gold Cup.
The Mexico manager has consistently emphasized that El Tri players need consistent club appearances to warrant World Cup squad consideration. Now, Araujo has an opportunity to achieve this goal, linking up with a team managed by Wilfried Nancy, whom he previously worked with in Major League Soccer.
Latest reports indicate that Araújo attracted interest from Liga MX giants Club América, though the defender chose any opportunity that maintained his European career.
Mexico suffered a setback when promising right-back Rodrigo Huescas sustained an injury in late September, affecting the team's World Cup preparations. Araújo now has an opportunity to address that gap, as an open battle for the position appears to be developing in the final six months before the World Cup.
Nevertheless, Araujo must surpass several El Tri players who have secured substantial playing time under Aguirre in recent international windows. However, in one of Mexico's most vulnerable positions, a strong second half of the 2025–26 season could see the offensively-minded right-back receive a call-up for his World Cup debut.