Mateo Chavez Signs Five-Year AZ Alkmaar Deal for World Cup Push
mateo chavez signed a five-year contract with AZ Alkmaar after deciding he needed Europe to keep his path to the 2026 World Cup open. The Mexico left back said the move was about growth, visibility and earning a place on Javier Aguirre's final list.
Chávez Chose Europe
Chávez put the decision bluntly: "Yo fui a Europa para buscarme mi lugar aquí, para que me voltearan a ver, para mostrar mi trabajo y crecer". He said he had to take that risk if he wanted to be part of Mexico at the 2026 World Cup.
That move came after he built his career at Chivas from the start. He arrived in the club's youth system when he was 9 years old, moved through the Sub-17, Sub-23 and Tapatío teams, and made his first-division debut in Clausura 2024 against Santos Laguna at 19 years old.
AZ Alkmaar and Chivas
His route also included a first-team run under Fernando Gago, Óscar García and Gerardo Espinoza, where he played both fullback and wingback. AZ's interest began in December, and the transfer followed a meeting that included Alejandro Manzo, Javier Mier and Amaury Vergara on a screen.
Chávez said he had played around 30 matches in the year and felt the rhythm was there, even after a shoulder injury kept him out of the March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium. He described the season in the Netherlands as a test that forced him to mature away from the field as well as on it.
"Tomar la oportunidad porque tenía que crecer en otras formas también, fuera de lo deportivo. Me ha hecho madurar mucho, me ha hecho crecer mucho," he said. He added that the daily work at AZ is demanding and that he feels very good in that environment.
Mexico's World Cup Race
The contract gives him a longer runway before Mexico's roster is finalized, and Chávez said he and Aguirre have spoken. "Él sabe cómo trabajo, cuál es mi línea, que me voy a matar por el equipo," he said, stressing that the coach knows his approach.
His season in Europe ended with one goal, scored against NAC Breda on the final matchday. He also pointed to Armando González, known as La Hormiga, as a player already ready to skip a step and move to a major league, while saying his own process is different.
