MEXICO CITY — With the group already clinched, the biggest question for Mexico manager Javier Aguirre all week has been what Wednesday’s lineup will actually look like.
Will he roll with most of the lineup that got him two wins despite not playing their best brand of football? Will he play the remaining four players on the 26-man roster that have yet to see the pitch? Or, more specifically, will Memo Ochoa get the start for his sixth World Cup?
While Aguirre has downplayed questions about Ochoa in his press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Estadio Azteca, he did clarify two other matters: César Montes will be back from his one-match suspension for a late red card against South Africa that caused him to miss last week’s 1-0 group-clinching victory over South Korea in Guadalajara. Also, Brian Gutiérrez will be “protected,” likely meaning the talented Chivas midfielder will sit for the group stage finale due to the yellow card he picked up in the World Cup opener to avoid any risk of him potentially getting called for another one and then missing the Round of 32.
“They’re the two, because of cards, that I’ve had to kind of manage differently,” Aguirre said. “Everyone else? It can be anyone. You’ll know tomorrow.”
Though the possibility of starting Ochoa was downplayed by “El Vasco,” that door wasn’t shut by any means. Even if he doesn’t end up in the starting lineup, it’s entirely possible that Aguirre could go with Raúl Rangel and sub Ochoa in for him later on in the match.
There were also reports earlier in the week that Santiago Giménez might start alongside Raúl Jiménez in the front three, so let’s throw that in there too. Without further ado, here’s the full projected Starting XI for Mexico against Czechia on Wednesday, June 24 at Estadio Azteca:
Mexico projected starting lineup vs. Czechia
- Goalkeeper: Memo Ochoa
- Defenders: Jorge Sanchez, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo
- Midfielders: Obed Vargas, Erik Lira, Luis Romo
- Forwards: Santiago Giménez, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones
World Cup group previews
Group A (Mexico) | Group B | Group C | Group D (USMNT) | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mexico projected lineup for 2026 World Cup vs Czechia
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