Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, one of the greats of the Mexico national team, is ready to play in his sixth World Cup, a remarkable feat that puts him alongside legends such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His participation begins this Thursday, in the clash against South Africa, although the expectation is that he will start on the bench.
Mexican fans and football fans will be able to follow the match between Mexico and South Africa in real time, with the ball rolling from 4pm this Thursday. Additional information about the complete 2026 World Cup table is also available for consultation.
In a statement to FIFA, the renowned goalkeeper expressed his happiness and optimism ahead of the imminent World Cup. He highlighted the difficulty of reaching his sixth participation, saying he felt the same excitement as his debut in the tournament.
Despite his longevity and records, the archer does not enjoy unanimity among Mexican fans. There are reasons for the division of opinions regarding his presence in the national team.
Although this is his sixth call-up to the World Cup, Guillermo Ochoa has not played in all editions. In 2006, the Mexican goalkeeper was Oswaldo Sánchez, and in 2010, Óscar Pérez, aged 37, was chosen, leaving Ochoa on the bench.
Ochoa’s history of participation in World Cups
- In 2006, he had no playing opportunities.
- In 2010, he remained on the reserve bench.
- In the 2014 edition, he played four matches, with a record of two wins, one draw and one defeat.
- At the 2018 World Cup, he played four times, recording two wins and two losses.
- In 2022, he participated in three games, recording one victory, one draw and one defeat.
The experienced goalkeeper was the undisputed starter for the national team in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups. However, for the 2026 tournament, he arrives without the same consensus for the position, and the expectation, even with Luis Malagón’s injury, is that he will be José Raúl Rangel’s backup.
Despite his likely reserve status, his influence and recognition within the cast and in Mexican society remain unshakable. Proof of this was the honor of receiving the national flag directly from the hands of President Claudia Sheinbaum, in an official ceremony last Monday.
In another highlight, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ochoa himself lead the ranking of World Cup participations, reaching the impressive mark of six editions each.
The call for the sixth World Cup was accompanied by an emotional text released by Ochoa himself, where he reflected on “a lifetime of effort” dedicated to football and the national team.
The year 2025 marked a period without call-ups for the experienced goalkeeper, but he returned to the squad for the friendly against Australia in May, guaranteeing his place on the final list for 2026. This squad, in fact, includes the youngest athlete to participate in the current World Cup.
Young midfielder Gil Mora, just 17 years old and a member of the current team, expressed his admiration for the veteran. “Whenever I watched the national team’s games, he was there in goal, stopping us from getting too many,” said Mora, describing the opportunity to share the pitch with his idol as a “dream come true.”
Ochoa’s journey towards becoming a starter in the Mexican national team began early. His debut took place in December 2005, in a friendly against Hungary, when he was just 20 years old and was already in his third professional season for América. His rise at the club was boosted by important Brazilian support.
Former Brazilian player Zaguinho, idol and top scorer at América and Estádio Azteca, revealed in an interview with ge that he was responsible for giving “Memo” Ochoa his first chance at the club. Zaguinho emphasized the difficulty of maintaining regularity and longevity to compete in six World Cups, expressing great respect and admiration for the goalkeeper.