The Mexican team for the 2026 World Cup, under the command of coach Javier Aguirre, excluded from its list the name of Javier Hernández, popularly known as Chicharito, who is the greatest scorer in the team’s history.
The absence of the athlete born in Guadalajara raises questions about the selection criteria.
Factors beyond the name: how FIFA and coaches analyze call-ups
First of all, it is crucial to understand that putting together a squad for the World Cup goes beyond simply choosing the most renowned athletes. According to a FIFA analysis of Thomas Tuchel’s list for the English team, the German coach evaluated criteria such as the recent performance of those called up, the team’s tactical demands, the availability and physical condition of each one.
This means that an athlete, even if he has talent and is fit, can be passed over if he does not align with the strategy defined by the coach. The formation of a team for a World Cup does not just look for the 26 most skilled names in a generic sense, but rather those that the coach deems most suitable for cohesion and collective performance in a short-term competition.
In addition to the tactical aspects, Hernández has not been linked to any club since December 2025, the time in which his departure from Chivas Guadalajara was confirmed, ending a cycle of unsatisfactory performance. Upon his return to Chivas, Chicharito accumulated few minutes on the field and registered only four goals in several tournaments, playing for less than 900 minutes throughout 2025, without managing to consolidate himself as a starter.
In May, shortly after the revelation of the pre-list of athletes who would be part of the team (where he was also absent), Chicharito used his Instagram profile for a question and answer session, where he expressed his vision about the Mexican team led by Aguirre.
“I always wish them the best and I hope they are successful, even with the way they have been acting, with the process we would like, with the players, and everything else”, declared the player at the time.
Even in the face of speculation about a possible retirement, the striker, currently 37 years old, assured on his social networks that he will disclose his next professional steps in July. “There’s no way I’m retiring. See you soon,” Chicharito said in a video shared on TikTok.
Furthermore, in April, Fox Sports announced that the athlete would join its team of commentators for coverage of the World Cup.