Playing in Mexico, and especially at the Estadio Banorte (Azteca), “is the best preparation for the World Cup”, according to the manager of Portugal, Roberto Martínez, who accepted that the Mexican National Team must be considered one of the ‘candidates’ for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
“The players started talking about it. I saw it at the U-20 World Cup in the matches against Morocco and Spain”, he commented. Based on this, Martínez anticipated that “the visit to the Azteca is going to be spectacular”.
This is how Portugal is preparing for the match against Mexico. The Portuguese National Team has settled in Cancún as part of its preparation for the friendly against Mexico, with a plan focused on avoiding physical wear and tear before playing at the altitude of the capital. Portugal’s coach, Roberto Martínez, surprised everyone by placing the Mexican National Team within the group of teams with a chance to compete for the next World Cup. His words were not casual nor a product of courtesy before the friendly match between the two teams, but an analysis based on precedents, context, and competitive environment.
Why did he say that? In a recent interview with TUDN, the strategist highlighted that El Tri should be considered a candidate due to a factor that has historically made a difference: home-field advantage. The 2026 World Cup will have Mexico as one of the host countries, which automatically elevates its chances. The Spanish coach recalled that when the tournament was held on Mexican soil, in 1970 and 1986, the national team reached the quarter-finals, an instance that remains its best performance in the history of the event.
“We are talking about a team that at the Azteca, at home, has to be one of the candidates. So, we are talking about a team that at the Azteca, at home, with its support, has to be one of the candidates (to win the World Cup)”, he stated. ‘Bob’ also referred to Gil Mora, the youngest to debut with Mexico, saying he has been following him recently. “The Azteca Stadium is a reference in World Cups”, expressed the Spanish coach for Línea de 4.
Regarding Mexico, his next rival in the FIFA match during the inauguration of the Estadio Banorte, he added: “It has always impressed me, in terms of fans, when I was in South Africa and in Brazil.” The team arrived under a heavy security operation and was transferred without contact with fans or the media. The squad led by Roberto Martínez will work in the Riviera Maya during the week, prioritizing recovery and adaptation before traveling on Friday to Mexico City.
“Mexico is always a team that uses the home factor very well. When you analyze Mexico in the World Cups, they don't get out of the group stage, but in the two World Cups they have played in Mexico, they reach the quarter-finals,” he said. Furthermore, the Portuguese coach emphasized the weight of playing in venues like the Estadio Azteca, an emblematic venue where the pressure from the crowd can tip the scales. The atmosphere, the altitude, and the constant backing from the stands were pointed out as elements that can directly influence the performance of El Tri.
However, his statements do not place Mexico as the absolute favorite, but as a contender capable of competing if it manages to consolidate a solid project. Rather than inflating expectations, Roberto Martínez's message points to acknowledging real conditions that, if well taken advantage of, could turn the Mexican team into one of the tournament's surprises. “When the matches start, it is a big team: the demand, the expectation, the way it is supported”.
According to Martínez, being able to emulate the 2026 World Cup atmosphere in this match, with Mexico as the host, is “the best preparation” they could have, especially since they will later play against the United States. “The aspects of altitude and how we are going to prepare for the match give us an opportunity,” he explained about the preparation that the Mexico vs. Portugal match will provide.
Roberto Martínez praises Javier Aguirre and the Mexican National Team. The Mexican National Team is not foreign to Martínez, who recalled that their current coach, ‘Vasco’ Aguirre, has had spells coaching in Spain. “Coach Aguirre is a person I admire a lot for what he did in his career in Spain. His teams are always very well-organized, they have a very good pattern of play, and they are very competitive,” he affirmed. Regarding the national team, Martínez explained that “Mexico uses the home factor very well,” as its best results have come when it is the host. “In the two World Cups they have played in Mexico, they reach the quarter-finals. There, on Saturday morning, he will inspect the pitch of the Azteca Stadium hours before the match. In the squad, names like Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and João Cancelo stand out, while Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the squad due to a muscle injury. The incorporation of Paulinho, from Toluca, is also expected.
