Javier Aguirre Prepares México - Ghana in Puebla With 20 Liga MX Players
México - Ghana arrived in Puebla on Friday night with Javier Aguirre still sorting out a World Cup group. Mexico used the friendly at home in the altitude of Puebla as part of its final push toward 2026, and the match carried real weight for players trying to force their way into the squad.
Aguirre's Puebla Camp
Aguirre started camp on May 6 with 20 Liga MX players and had been training with that group for two weeks before Ghana arrived. Captain Edson Álvarez and Guillermo Ochoa joined from overseas leagues, giving the coach a fuller look at the roster he has been building around.
The setup was straightforward. Mexico had four pre-tournament friendlies to use before its World Cup debut against South Africa on June 11, and this was one of the final two chances for fringe players to win one of the 26 spots available. That narrows every selection decision to what happens now, not what happened months ago.
Ghana's Mixed Squad
Ghana came to Puebla with a traveling squad made up mostly of local league talents and U-23 players. That meant Mexico faced an opponent built differently from the one it could see at full strength later, but the matchup still served the same purpose: giving Aguirre another live test before he names his final roster.
Mexico had already drawn Portugal and Belgium before the Ghana friendly, so the camp has offered a range of looks against different styles. The next step before the roster is unveiled is another friendly against Australia, and that leaves the Mexico staff with only a small sample to separate the secure names from the players still fighting for a seat on the plane.
Final Roster Pressure
For the players on the edge, the arithmetic is simple. Twenty men started camp, 26 spots are available, and only a handful of openings remain after the coach has spent two weeks with the core group. Puebla was not just another stop; it was one of the last places to make a case before Aguirre closes the file on his World Cup squad.
