The Mexican National Team faces Portugal at the Banorte Stadium in a preparatory match that marks the reopening of the venue for the 2026 World Cup, with new call-ups and several key absences in both teams. The most painful detail for fans in Mexico is the absence of forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been sidelined by an injury for the past few weeks. The Mexico vs. Portugal match will be played on Saturday, March 28, at 7:00 PM (Central Mexico Time) at the Banorte Stadium (Azteca) in Mexico City, as part of the March FIFA window. The game can be watched live on the TUDN and Azteca Deportes multiplatform. This match is part of the team's preparation under coach Javier Aguirre for the 2026 World Cup, where they will debut on June 11 against South Africa. Portugal arrives after concluding its preparation in Lisbon and traveling to Cancún to acclimatize before heading to the Mexican capital, avoiding the impact of altitude. Mexico arrives with Fidalgo and Ochoa as new additions to the squad. The Mexican National Team worked at the High Performance Center with a full squad, holding sessions in tight spaces and positional exercises. Portugal arrives with multiple injuries, including Cristiano Ronaldo. Coach Roberto Martínez's team will be without its main star. In his place, Portugal called up Ricardo Velho as a goalkeeper and reinforced its attack with Paulinho, a forward from Toluca who will join the team directly in Mexico. Additionally, players like Pedro Gonçalves and João Neves performed physical recovery work before traveling. A key focus is on Álvaro Fidalgo, who had his first training session after receiving Mexican nationality. The midfielder highlighted the atmosphere upon his arrival: “They welcomed me with a couple of kicks... I'm kidding; everything has gone very well.” Fidalgo's call-up comes in the context of injuries, opening up competition in midfield. Guillermo Ochoa's return is also notable, as he vies for a spot in his sixth World Cup, and Alexis Vega's recovery from a knee injury, as he now trains without restrictions. In attack, the team will be led by Raúl Jiménez, accompanied by options like Julián Quiñones, Germán Berterame, and young Armando 'Hormiga' González.
Mexico vs Portugal: Friendly Match Ahead of World Cup 2026
The Mexican National Team faces Portugal at the Banorte Stadium in a friendly match. The event marks the stadium's reopening for the 2026 World Cup. Both teams feature new call-ups and key absences, including Cristiano Ronaldo. The match takes place on March 28 in Mexico City.
