USMNT Icon Delivers Brutal Takedown of Mexico Ahead of 2026 World Cup Showdown

Landon Donovan has reignited his longstanding feud with Mexico's national soccer team, stating in a recent interview that they are "not very good."

Throughout history, few players have troubled Mexico as much as Donovan. The ex-USMNT skipper netted six times against El Tri during his career, marking the highest tally any player has achieved in North America's most heated soccer rivalry.

Currently serving as an analyst, Donovan expressed his views on Javier Aguirre's squad's current condition, confessing he remains unimpressed with their recent displays and suggesting a disastrous outcome at next summer's World Cup remains possible.

"Mexico currently finds itself in a difficult period," Donovan explained to Fox Soccer. "They're experiencing a truly challenging phase. Things don't look promising for them, and they require a swift recovery because while I don't expect them to crash out of the group stage, there's no assurance they won't. They simply aren't performing well."

Donovan's remarks come after Mexico's six-match winless run that concluded 2025. This represents a troubling indicator given Mexico's group stage elimination at the previous World Cup—their poorest tournament showing in nearly three decades.

El Tri Home Support Could Turn Sour Quickly in 2026 World Cup

Ex-USMNT midfielder Stuart Holden reinforced Donovan's assessment and went further, acknowledging that Mexico hosting the World Cup at home could rapidly transform from a benefit into a complete disaster.

"Mexico stands as one of three host countries where home crowd support might actually backfire," Holden observed. "Due to the expectations. And if things don't go well in the opening 15 minutes, those supporters will turn against you quicker than anyone else. I believe these Mexican players experience more comfort playing in Mexico than in the United States.

"I find this absolutely intriguing. They recently played a friendly match, drew 0–0 with Uruguay, and were jeered off the pitch. The supporters are clashing with the players."

Raúl Jiménez recently criticized Mexican supporters following the goalless Uruguay match—that incident perfectly illustrating the tense dynamic between El Tri and its fanbase, an issue that has intensified since the decade began.

Aguirre and his squad have seven months to rediscover their peak performance and repair the fractured bond with El Tri supporters. Should this goal remain unmet, Donovan and Holden's predictions could prove accurate during the 2026 World Cup.

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