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Road tp to World Cup 26 - Ep10 - Mexico
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Join your hosts Nick Britten Ken Davies as we take the deepest of deep dives into everything related to the FIFA World Cup 2026 held in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
All the news, analysis and comment from every team, every qualification process and of course the tournament itself. The biggest festival of soccer in the world.
This week we look at co-hosts Mexico, the history of the national team, players to watch out for next year, tactics and a focus on manager Javier Aguirre. Plus Kenny's quiz and your latest World Cup news.
Your weekly guide to the pinnacle of world soccer brought to you by Global Sports Podcast Network
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Hosts
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, bonjour, ni hao, privet, g'day, hey and hola! You're listening to the Road to the World Cup 26 podcast, part of the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:00:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only place to find your regular soccer content on the top English Premier League teams, women's football and, because you're listening to it now, you therefore know the road else the World Cup 2026. And this is the Road to the World Cup 2026 podcast. I'm your host, Nick Britton.
00:00:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm joined, as always, by a man who's just come back from Germany, so with some amusing tales from Munich, I'm sure, Kenny Davis. Hello, Ken, how are you?
00:00:48
Ken Davies
Buenas tardes. ¿Cómo estás?
00:00:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's very good. that Is that what they say in Germany? Because then everybody's looking at you in a bit of a strange way.
00:00:53
Ken Davies
Yeah, yeah. It was odd, yeah.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're like, what's this weirdo?
00:00:56
Ken Davies
I went to a Spanish-speaking festival in Munich. No, i was was work it was work, Nick. It was work. You know, but work, life, balance. It's not balance at the moment, just too much work.
00:01:07
Ken Davies
Anyway, that's what I was in Munich for, but it was good fun, as it always
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Good, good, good, good. Very glad very glad to hear. but So you've been obviously well aware, if you're a regular listener, of how this how
Focus on Mexico's World Cup Journey
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
this works. We are currently going through teams that have qualified ready for the World Cup 2026 next year, either because they've been playing some stellar football or just because they're hosts and they get a free pass.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Two weeks ago, we started on USA. Last week, we did Canada. And this week... We are doing Mexico.
00:01:55
Ken Davies
know
00:01:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like that.
00:01:57
Ken Davies
that's good that's That's probably winning so far in the World Cup of National Anthem.
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I like that.
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. So next year, when we know exactly who's qualified, we're going to have a World Cup of National Anthems. Canada, we felt, wasn't going to get out of group stages. It was going to struggle.
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was going to struggle. But I like that.
00:02:10
Ken Davies
may Mate, mate.
00:02:14
Ken Davies
Yeah, that's that's what a National Anthem should sound like.
00:02:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does. It's quite stirring, isn't it? agree.
00:02:19
Ken Davies
Shirling, brass band, fairly random notes, but with that kind of march. you know what mean? If I was going to war, I'd want to be marching to that.
00:02:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
i agree
00:02:29
Ken Davies
no Not kind of the flaky Canada one.
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I agree with you.
00:02:32
Ken Davies
I don't think the Canada one is called flaky Canada, ah but you get Madrid. Right, so a welcome everybody to
Mexico's World Cup History
00:02:39
Ken Davies
this. So ah well I'm just going to take you through a little guided tour of the history of Mexican participation in the World Cup and other similar events. Okay, so obviously as we know, Mexico are part of CONCACAF.
00:02:58
Ken Davies
historically, the most successful team within that confederation. They've won 14 CONCACAF titles. They've qualified for 17 World Cups.
00:03:11
Ken Davies
So they are the powerhouse, really, of CONCACAF. Now, an interesting fact, a factoid, Nick, because I know occasionally you ask me questions. I'm going to push one back at you.
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, we've got two questions for you today in Kenny's quiz, which you can play along at home.
00:03:21
Ken Davies
going to push one back at you.
00:03:24
Ken Davies
Oh, oh, oh.
00:03:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
seriously I think you'll get them today. i think you'll get them.
00:03:28
Ken Davies
and Okay, i wonder if you'll get this one.
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:03:32
Ken Davies
Mexico, as a little bit of trivia knowledge to impress your mates down the pub with, played in the very first World Cup game on the 13th of August, 1930. Okay.
00:03:47
Ken Davies
Who did they play?
00:03:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's it. ah Thanks Yoda. I don't know. How am I meant to know that? Well, I'm going to go the eventual... I do know that the winners of the 1930 World Cup were Uruguay.
00:03:50
Ken Davies
Hmm.
00:04:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So i'm going to go Uruguay. I'm going to say Mexico opened up against the eventual winners of the 1930 World Cup, Uruguay.
00:04:08
Ken Davies
Don't be ridiculous. It was France.
00:04:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course. why how How did I not know that? and Listen, if you're to start doing this...
00:04:14
Ken Davies
Yeah,
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Last week you asked me yeah who Canada played in the 1910 Olympics or whatever it was.
00:04:22
Ken Davies
yeah and they're both ah in America.
00:04:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
If you're going to start, yeah, yeah both teams. They're both American teams.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if you're going start, do it. right, I'm going to have to make Ken's quiz a little bit harder if you're going to behave like this
00:04:26
Ken Davies
these great These are great questions.
00:04:29
Ken Davies
So...
00:04:32
Ken Davies
So they they played in the first ever World Cup match game France. I forgot to make a note of the result. But they have consecutively qualified for the World Cup since 1994. That's some record.
00:04:43
Ken Davies
Best finish was in 1970 and 1986. and nineteen eighty six They finished in the quarterfinals. What, by the way, Nick, part two of your questions, what is what was unusual about, not so much unusual, but what was coincidental about their quarterfinal appearances? They've appeared in quarterfinals both times in 1970, 1986.
00:05:05
Ken Davies
What was the coincidence that that happened to be their best performance?
00:05:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't understand the question.
00:05:11
Ken Davies
The question is this. They qualifieify oh they get they've got their best places in World Cups in 1970 and 1986.
00:05:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:05:21
Ken Davies
What other coincidental thing was there that maybe helped that in Mexico?
00:05:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah They were both home tournaments.
00:05:30
Ken Davies
Correct.
00:05:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Get in. Get in.
00:05:32
Ken Davies
Correct.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're looking very disappointed that i got that right, didn't you?
00:05:35
Ken Davies
So both time they were hosts, a and guess what? They're hosts again. so So the best finish was 1970, 1986, that's right.
00:05:46
Ken Davies
Winners of the 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, and they won the Olympic gold medal in 2012. So they have well they have won world competitions. They were, however, disappointingly disqualified in the 1990 World Cup.
00:06:02
Ken Davies
Because they were caught playing overage players in the 1989 World FIFA Youth Championship. So they had their wrists slapped or whatever they do in Mexico.
00:06:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
That'll teach them.
00:06:20
Ken Davies
So...
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's probably worse than that. I'd imagine it's so i much iss worse than getting your wrist slapped, if I'm honest.
00:06:25
Ken Davies
Yeah, it probably was. It's 100 lines, probably. So where are they in the rankings?
Mexico's Recent Form and Key Players
00:06:32
Ken Davies
17th, but on the rise. The highest ever rank was fourth 2006 and in 1998. The lowest ever rank was 40th, only back in 2015. And so therefore, there's been a bit of an inexorable...
00:06:49
Ken Davies
rise ah slowly but surely from 40th up to now 17th. They've been pretty consistent in the last five years, occupying spaces in the world rankings between 12 and 20.
00:07:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you.
00:07:01
Ken Davies
Now their form, before I hand it back over to you Nick, is excellent. So in the last 10 games, they've won six, they've drawn two and they've lost two And of course, they won the CONCACAF Nations League in March.
00:07:17
Ken Davies
The interesting thing about their form, these 10 games, in which have been against some pretty decent teams, is in those 10 games, they've only conceded four goals.
00:07:28
Ken Davies
I mean, that is Burnley-esque, isn't it?
00:07:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it is.
00:07:31
Ken Davies
and
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
In international terms, it is.
00:07:34
Ken Davies
In interest, that is, they are the the the international equivalent of Burnley. But...
00:07:42
Ken Davies
as a kind of alternative to Burnley, they do actually score. So they've scored 15 goals in that time as well. So they are coming into right now on a pretty healthy flush of form, and that's helped them propel themselves up the rankings from 40th to 17th.
00:07:59
Ken Davies
So that's a little bit of history, a little bit of rankings, and a little bit of form about Mexico.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you very much.
00:08:11
Ken Davies
i mean
00:08:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, we're going to bring out a new slot we've got that we started last week we're going to carry on with.
US 2026 World Cup Task Force Meeting
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's our new slot.
00:08:22
Ken Davies
which is newsflash or something.
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's our new slot because there's World Cup news so happening every week now. ah So we want to be able to just bring up with kind of what else is going on.
00:08:29
Ken Davies
i Try to do that like they do on the news.
00:08:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, if you're not watching that on video and you're just listening to that, don't worry. Ken is only shuffling papers.
00:08:40
Ken Davies
That's what they do in newscasts though, isn't it?
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um so
00:08:41
Ken Davies
To make them look important like there's something that's written on it.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I know, I know. um Anyway, a bit of news this week, to keep you abreast of what's going on, is Donald Trump. And he has convened the first meeting of his administration's 2026 World Cup task force, they're called.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Predictably, it didn't go that well. And it kind of garnered some pretty bad headlines and people a bit worried because J.D. Vance made a joke, and I use the word joke in inverted commas here, people.
00:09:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah made a joke about immigration, essentially saying that if you overstay your welcome, you'll be, we well, you'll be kicked out. and And whether you're kicked out and sent home or whether you're kicked out and put into one of these huge new super jails that to illegal imigrates yeah illegal immigrants have been put into, who's no anybody's guess, quite frankly.
00:09:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that didn't go down too well. There are concerns around the amount of visas that
00:09:33
Ken Davies
process
00:09:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
that they're going to have to... pro They're expecting 2 million people, by the way, into America for the World Cup. And getting a visa is is a long process.
00:09:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It takes time. And there's a lot of concern about the capability of America to to process
00:09:46
Ken Davies
um
00:09:55
Ken Davies
process
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
process all the visas in time. And it's they do say they've started already and they're on it already and and and what have you. But it's it's it was a it's kind of... a kind of public meeting, if you like, because did it all in public and in front of the media, that doesn't instill with a huge amount of confidence.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But on saying that, I've got to say this, I've got to say this. i've i've In my journalistic career, I've worked on loads of these types of mass events, sporting events, ahead of time. And the year or so before, there are always just a flood of negative stories. it's never going to be ready.
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Transport's never going to ready.
00:10:29
Ken Davies
chaos.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
The stadium's not going ready.
00:10:30
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:10:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's all going to be chaos.
00:10:31
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:10:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And in the end, It's all fine. And I very much imagine America will be able to put on a brilliant World Cup.
00:10:34
Ken Davies
yeah
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think they'll be absolutely fine.
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
it'll be ah It'll be a great event and and I'm very much looking forward to it. But it's good to know that the that the US task force, World Cup task force, has met for the first time and is on it.
00:10:39
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we'll keep you abreast of any further news coming out of it as we move on.
00:10:55
Ken Davies
And USA are just one of the hosts of three, but they're pretty important because i think most of the yeah the huge games will end up being played down, won't
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, very much so. Very much so. Right, anyway, let's get back to Mexico, shall we?
00:11:08
Ken Davies
Yes.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to just, as always, have a look at some of the key players. And as always, I've got five key players for you. Five key players who are expected to do well for Mexico next year.
00:11:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah The first one is Raul Jimenez.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, well, I'm really pleased about this. he's top of my list because it's only, what, five years since we were discussing whether Jimenez would actually ever play again, let alone appear in a World Cup.
00:11:22
Ken Davies
Oh, what a player.
00:11:32
Ken Davies
He nearly didn't survive.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. Well, this is it. I mean, for those who don't know, but he suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain when he was playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League in a game against Arsenal. That was in November 2020.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was an accident, widely reported, that could have cost him his life had it not been for very speedy intervention.
00:11:49
Ken Davies
yeah
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he had a long time out of the game and he moved from the West Midlands and went to Fulham. And there's always the question, really, whether he could ever get back to any kind of level. But he's had a really good season this year. he's played really He's had a really good season.
00:12:02
Ken Davies
Oh, fantastic.
00:12:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's played in 35 games so far. He started 27 of them. He's got 10 goals. He's got three assists. And he yeah he's back in favour, certainly, you know into the national set-up.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
He played in the semi-final and final of the of the recent Nations League, which, of course, Mexico won.
00:12:17
Ken Davies
yeah
00:12:20
Ken Davies
Hmm?
00:12:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
They beat Panama, and and he scored in the final against Panama. twice in the semi-final, and he's third in Mexico's list of all-time scorers. So it's important that he's playing, but I just think, never mind the kind of, the football bit, the personal story behind this is amazing.
00:12:35
Ken Davies
What a great story. What a great story it would be if he has a good tournament. He'll be 35.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:41
Ken Davies
I think he's a great player. ah He's definitely their talisman up front, ah but he'll be 35. It's big ask. ah But he's still he's still banging him in. So, you know, he looks at he's playing the form of his life, to be honest.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Indeed, indeed. And he is is considered pretty much the the leader of the camp. You know, he's got that it's got our experience as well. um It's interesting now. It's interesting because in the Nations League games...
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mexico have traditionally kind of played one up front. And the question was being asked, well, if Raul Jimenez can't play or is going to play, what where does that leave another Jimenez, although s spelt in a different way, Santi Jimenez, who's very much the kind of rising star in many ways of the but the Mexico team.
00:13:23
Ken Davies
Very much so.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and He plays for AC Milan, he's 24. He scored 45 goals in 73 games when he was at Feyenoord, which earned him a move a couple of months ago to Milan, where he's got three and 11.
00:13:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Internationally, though, he's struggled a little bit. He's only scored four in 34 games. He hasn't scored since July 2023 when he scored the winner in the Gold Cup against Panama. So his international record isn't great. His club record is good.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
He has played in Mexico, 11 of Mexico's 15 games since then, although he hasn't scored, but he is getting regular game time. And he's a player that's very well regarded in the country, very well regarded.
00:14:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there was a lot of questions around, well, who are you going to play? you play Raul Jimenez are you going play Santi Jimenez? And the answer is they played them both. They played them as a two up top during the Nations League and they won the Nations League.
00:14:14
Ken Davies
And they won. And they won.
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, happy, happy days.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:14:18
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:14:18
Ken Davies
and And to be honest, that that combination also played in the semifinal. So, I mean, clearly is what Aguirre favours. So, good good luck to them.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes. Yep. Yep, absolutely. Player three of my players to watch for Mexico is Edson Alvarez, who's defensive mid-builder plays for West Ham United in the Premier League.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is their defensive linchpin, if you like. He's one of their most important players. He's not had a good season with West Ham, but then again, who has?
00:14:51
Ken Davies
He was, yeah. Hmm.
00:14:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
It kind of fell out with Graham Potter when Potter arrived at West Ham. He's very much expected to leave in the summer, Bayern Munich being the latest to be linked with him, but load European teams have been linked with him. So I think he probably does need a move.
00:15:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And he'll go to a decent team. And if he has a good season next year, I think he'll be very effective. is a very, very good player. Interestingly, though, interestingly, this will be his third World Cup, by the way, but his first one in 2018, he had an absolute shocker because he scored an own goal against Sweden. He had a nightmare against Brazil.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
and he was named And he was named in L'Equipe's worst 11 of the World Cup.
00:15:29
Ken Davies
That's nice.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's not really a team you ever want to play for, is it? But he's he's yeah he's he's built on that. He's used that to good effect and he's expected to be an important part of Mexico's team next year.
00:15:42
Ken Davies
And he's the captain. And, you know, we talked about earlier about conceding four goals in 10 games. Big part of that has been yeah how Alvarez has been able to just just manage the defence, really, because he's played in the back four, but he generally plays as defensive midfielder in either a 4-4-2 or a 3-2-4-1.
00:16:02
Ken Davies
And he's very, very central to their defensive stability.
00:16:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is, as is Johan Vazquez, who's a defender who plays for Genoa. And he has played over 100 times in Serie A. So he's got that top-level experience. he He's only 26. He's one of their key defenders.
00:16:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's one of their key defenders. His stats are really, really good. He is, again, he's going to be one who, if he can fit in firing, he'll play an important part. And the last one is Guillermo Memo Ochoa, who is the goalkeeper.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not only a goalkeeper, but he is very high on the list of all-time caps for Mexico. He's got 151 caps for Mexico. He's only 29, which for goalkeepers, nothing, is it?
00:16:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's face it.
00:16:47
Ken Davies
that's just madness.
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's absolutely nothing. But he's absolutely revered in Mexico. They love him. They love him. He plays in the Primera Liga in Portugal with AFS Futbol.
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And...
Spotlight on Mexican Players: Alvarez and Ochoa
00:17:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, he's going to be so important to their to to to their team. is is' Where can he get to? Well, if he has a good season the World Cup, he won't be far off Claudio Suarez. He's got 176 caps.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Andre Guardaro has got 180 caps. He's the most capped player. He retired in 2024. So he's 29 caps away from becoming the most capped player in American, sorry, in American, in Mexican history.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's only 29. He's a goalkeeper. He's got another 10 years left in him.
00:17:32
Ken Davies
Right. Is this Luis Malagón?
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
got another 10 years left.
00:17:34
Ken Davies
Are we talking about Luis Malagón here?
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, we're talking about Guillermo Ochoa.
00:17:42
Ken Davies
Right. Okay. I have Malagón as their goalkeeper, but but never mind.
00:17:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, you are wrong.
00:17:46
Ken Davies
You're probably playing.
00:17:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's why you're rubbish at fantasy football. He's played in five World Cups, by the way.
00:17:49
Ken Davies
Never mind.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
he's played And if he turns out in 2026, he'll become the most... Whatever the phrase is, the Mexican player who's played in the most World Cups.
00:17:58
Ken Davies
Very good. the The most capped World Cup player in Mexico.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:18:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no Mexican player ever played six. Quite a few of them have played five, but none have played six.
00:18:05
Ken Davies
So we're talking about a team here. We've got plenty of plenty of Premier League and top-level European. And, of course, the Mexican League is a pretty competitive league as well. and there's plenty of top-level Mexican players here as well.
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so. I'm very interested to see where you think they're going to finish, to be honest.
Promotions and Trivia
00:18:21
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:18:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think but we're going to come on to that a little bit later on.
00:18:21
Ken Davies
Ah.
00:18:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right, we're going to take a quick break now for a word from our sponsor before we move on to my favourite part of the show always, which is putting Kenny, I was going to say to the test, but normally it's to the sword in Kenny's quiz.
00:18:33
Ken Davies
and
00:18:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
So play along at home with that. But first, Ken, a word from our sponsor, please.
00:18:38
Ken Davies
Yes. OK. Well, this podcast, obviously, as you know, is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. And by the way, if you are enjoying it, leave us a rating, subscribe to the podcast, or you can even send an email to roadtoworldcup26 at gmail.com.
00:18:56
Ken Davies
come Now, here at Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and Zencastr came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all of their mums and ars.
00:19:12
Ken Davies
It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. So if you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description. Learn more about our friends at Zencastr.
00:19:29
Ken Davies
so
00:19:36
Ken Davies
Come on.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keep dancing, Ken. Keep dancing.
00:19:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so it's that time of the week.
00:19:42
Ken Davies
Cheers. Beaver.
00:19:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Kenny's quiz time.
00:19:45
Ken Davies
i
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, to be fair, mate, you got on a board last week. You got a board with your first correct so answer with ah Canada's national animal and, indeed, your favourite animal, and that was, of course, what?
00:19:47
Ken Davies
come on
00:19:54
Ken Davies
chair
00:19:59
Ken Davies
beaver
00:20:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
The beaver. Ken loves a bit of beaver. Oh, he's got is he's got his pipe out.
00:20:04
Ken Davies
I'm a lucky pipe out.
00:20:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah.
00:20:04
Ken Davies
i no Nothing was ever solved without the use of a pipe.
00:20:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not...
00:20:08
Ken Davies
I've realised this, and this is what I need again.
00:20:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:10
Ken Davies
Hit me
00:20:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
When I say he's got his pipe out, I do actually mean a pipe. It's not a euphemism for anything. Right, Ken's quiz.
00:20:14
Ken Davies
with it. Yeah.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, question one. These are quite easy. I think you'll get these right. On the Mexican flag, there is a what holding a what sitting on top of a what?
00:20:24
Ken Davies
yeah
00:20:29
Ken Davies
Jesus, what? A something, holding a something on top of a something.
00:20:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:35
Ken Davies
ah so
00:20:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now, plan on at home. If you know your flags, you'll probably know this because it's quite straightforward.
00:20:39
Ken Davies
I don't know what this is. It's a bear holding a stick on top of a pyramid.
00:20:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, you've got none out of three. So I'm going to give you another go at that. It's not a bear. It's not a stick. And it's not aro but a pyramid.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um ah You've got, yeah, to be fair, the first thing is an animal holding something and sitting on top of, not a pyramid, but but not come out think about Mexico.
00:20:56
Ken Davies
But I've got the general, that's what you want, isn't it?
00:21:05
Ken Davies
All Mexican animal. It's a llama. It's a llama.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
What's Mexico famous for? Come on.
00:21:10
Ken Davies
A llama's, it's a llama holding, holding a coin, gold coin, sitting on top of
00:21:25
Ken Davies
ah mountain.
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mate. What can I say? tell you what. That was just as bad. None out of three again. so Okay.
00:21:35
Ken Davies
I've no I've no idea.
00:21:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I mean, look, okay, so what the national animal of...
00:21:43
Ken Davies
Mexico?
00:21:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Mexico, do you know that? Because that that will give you one of the three.
00:21:47
Ken Davies
How would I know the national anthem and the national animal of Mexico?
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't know. Well, you knew the national animal of beavertail, of Canada. That's maybe...
00:21:54
Ken Davies
ah Okay, the national animal, it's an eagle.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
stop Stop Googling now, because that's not...
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
internet ah you knew No, you cheated.
00:22:00
Ken Davies
It's an eagle.
00:22:01
Ken Davies
It's an eagle.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm not having
00:22:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. um
00:22:03
Ken Davies
I didn't, jeez.
00:22:05
Ken Davies
just had a quick suck on my pipe and it came to me. It's an eagle.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:22:09
Ken Davies
It's an eagle holding in holding a some kind of olive branch, a kind of green twig, on top of a pine tree.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're going to kick yourself here. It is an eagle, because the Golden Eagle is is indeed the national...
00:22:22
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah.
00:22:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Animal of canada of Mexico, not Canada. I've got to stop getting Canada out of my head here. Right. On the mastuum el the Mexican flag, there is an eagle holding a snake in its talons, sitting on the...
00:22:32
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:22:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is the bit, mate. Come on, Mexico. Sitting on top of a cactus.
00:22:36
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
and i might make you I might make you sit on top of a cactus.
00:22:43
Ken Davies
Right.
00:22:46
Ken Davies
Yeah, was an with an eagle holding the eel on top of a character.
00:22:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Forgetting that wrong. All right.
00:22:49
Ken Davies
No, I'm... ah Right. No, I'm sorry. That was abysmal, wasn't it?
00:22:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was... but This is much more up your street. This is much more up your street.
00:22:56
Ken Davies
Really?
00:22:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is question two, yeah.
00:22:57
Ken Davies
but Okay.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Mexico borders three countries. What are they?
00:23:01
Ken Davies
The United States...
00:23:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
you're good You're good at this. You're good at these geography ones. You got... term You got the nine of them right, yeah.
00:23:06
Ken Davies
Yeah, geography. I've got nine generally.
00:23:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
you didn't know what they are, but you got nine.
00:23:09
Ken Davies
Yeah, United united States.
00:23:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's one, correct.
00:23:12
Ken Davies
And then what does it, what's it border to the... Then it would be down into Panama.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Keep going.
00:23:22
Ken Davies
El Salvador.
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
USA, Panama, El Salvador is not the right answer.
00:23:29
Ken Davies
Oh my word, that's impressive.
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not the right answer.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
The answer is USA.
00:23:36
Ken Davies
What was it?
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you got that bit right.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Belize and Guatemala.
00:23:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:23:44
Ken Davies
Really? they
00:23:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, really?
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So
00:23:47
Ken Davies
They must have changed it then.
00:23:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll tell you what, you could put your pipe down there.
00:23:53
Ken Davies
That was a waste of time, wasn't it?
00:23:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:23:55
Ken Davies
All right, you're banished for next week.
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, mate, good effort. Get to more on Kenny's quiz next week. I hope you...
00:24:02
Ken Davies
I'm going to throw one back at you. going throw one back at you, considering you did me on the flag.
00:24:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I hope... for hope
00:24:07
Ken Davies
So here's one for you. What colours are on the flag?
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Green, white, and gold.
00:24:13
Ken Davies
Yeah. Yeah. No, green, white and red. And by the way...
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, so close. Come on, that is really, really... That's a great effort, is.
00:24:22
Ken Davies
No, no, no, it is. And that's why the nickname of Mexico, by the way, I think this also good information for people to know is L3, T-R-I, L3.
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:24:33
Ken Davies
And that's because there are three colors on the Mexican flag. And that's three is in relation to the three colors. So there go. So let me go on to ah tactics. But before we do, I'm going to throw in while we've got, whilst I've got it in front of me, Nick, and doing that thing they do on the news thing.
00:24:50
Ken Davies
ah We're also partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements, because your body, Nick, and yours in particular, is unique. Because without knowing what deficiencies you have, taking off-the-shelf supplements means you're not getting enough of the stuff you need, you're getting too much of the stuff you don't need. So...
00:25:08
Ken Davies
Bionique provides 100% tailor-made supplements designed to deliver precisely what your body needs. And we all know what your body needs, Nick. Exactly at the right levels to help optimize your health. No guessing.
00:25:21
Ken Davies
So click the show notes and use code GPN, no, GSPN2025, GSPN2025 for your 40% discount.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is that G-S-P-N?
00:25:32
Ken Davies
I'm so professional at doing them, aren't I? Are you great?
00:25:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, there is a recorded version of this, which I think is probably better.
00:25:37
Ken Davies
No, no, no. It's much better when we do it live because we can make it a little bit more personal, can't
00:25:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
It is better, yeah, it is. We can, we can, we can. I'll tell you what i'll tell you what my body needs right now.
00:25:45
Ken Davies
we? No, let's not go there, please.
00:25:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've spent the day...
00:25:48
Ken Davies
Remember, there's more than four people listening to this now.
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
I spent the day refereeing at the world's greatest football stadium, which is, as everybody knows, Pry Park in Derby.
00:25:58
Ken Davies
but
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I've refereed two football games, but the second one was a bit of a competition. So it was two hours solid straight through.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I did a 90-minute game this morning and then two-hour game this afternoon. to me
00:26:05
Ken Davies
why
00:26:08
Ken Davies
And you're coming off the back of ah of a fairly serious calf injury.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, I tore MacArthur in January and playing paddle, which is the world's second greatest sport after football, playing paddle. So it was an interesting test to see whether I could run around for four hours up and that up and down a football pitch.
00:26:23
Ken Davies
Are you feeling it?
00:26:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm feeling great, if I'm honest with I'm feeling really good. It went very, very well. And I'm looking forward to a beer. when when
00:26:31
Ken Davies
Very good. Well, well played you. Well, before you have that beer, I'd better tell you a little bit more about the tactics. Very briefly, give you an idea of how how they
Mexico's Tactical Analysis
00:26:42
Ken Davies
set up.
00:26:42
Ken Davies
How Javier Aguirre, their manager, and we'll talk about the manager in a bit, but yeah sir he's ah he's flexible. What I like about Mexico is I look back over the the last few games in terms of exactly how tactically they were set up, and it's always different.
00:27:00
Ken Davies
So he's got that kind of tactical versatility to look at the opposition and say, we're not doing 4-4-2, we're playing a 3-4-3 or we're playing a 4-2-3-1. And so in the final against Panama, it was a 4-4-2, very standard 4-4-2. Jimenez and Jimenez up front.
00:27:16
Ken Davies
Alvarez ah sitting sitting defensively in midfield. And Reyes, Montez, Vázquez and Gallardo. Gallardo is an important player for them on the left. He's hes' kind of always present.
00:27:30
Ken Davies
Setup was a 4-4-2. Against Canada in the semifinal, a 3-4-3. You don't often see a 3-4-3 at international level. But again, he had Jimenez. Jimenez up front with Vega and Gallardo.
00:27:45
Ken Davies
And Alvarado on the right, he was also an important player as wingers. So, you know, he has that flexibility. And when you go back a game before that to Honduras,
00:27:57
Ken Davies
When they'd lost 2-0, they had to win. They won it 4-0, 4-2-3-1. So he's always keeping the opposition money to guessing. So I think the interesting thing just to to note in terms of formation and tactics in Mexico is We probably won't know what team's going out there in what kind of formation until immediately before the game.
00:28:17
Ken Davies
But they've got that kind of versatility and flexibility, but it seems to work. They're consistently keeping a clean sheet and consistently won 60% in the last 10 games. So it seems to working. So that's that's a little five minutes on formation.
00:28:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they do seem to be on the up, I think. yeah I was really interested to hear you say earlier on that they'd slipped as far as 40th in the ranking. Because in my mind, Mexico have always been a kind of top 15-ish kind of team, haven't they?
00:28:40
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's odd It's odd to think that they are lower in the rankings than the USA at the moment.
00:28:49
Ken Davies
They are. Only one.
00:28:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yeah, but it's odd to think that they're lower.
00:28:51
Ken Davies
I fancy Mexico ahead of the USA, though, as as if they were to play them tomorrow. In fact, the most recent game against USA, Mexico, 1-2-0.
00:28:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course. Yeah, of course. Of course. um So a little bit then about the manager. referenced his flexibility there just a moment. I presume that's because he's good at yoga. Let's have a look at his his record, really.
00:29:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he's in his third stint as the Mexico manager, having been appointed again in July 2024, following Mexico's early exit from the 24 Copa America.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So what does that tell you about him? It tells you he's got a lot of experience. He knows his way around the national team. He's been at two World Cups in 2002 and 2010. And of course, as we talked about a little bit earlier on, he guided Mexico to their first ever Nations League Championship in March. So he's so he's got he's got a good record there.
00:29:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
He'll set up, I think, you talked about his you talked about his flexibility. I think he'll set up Mexico not to lose. He's quite a pragmatic coach here. And I don't think they're going to be the most exciting team to watch at the World Cup next year, but I do think they're going to be effective.
00:30:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've we we've talked already, and we will talk in greater depth around managers who go out to win games. I kind of feel with Aguiarri that he kind of prefers not to lose. Even against Panama, they only have 47% possession.
00:30:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they and they put in they kind of played with quite a low block, which means they're very very hard to break down. So i'm expecting I'm expecting them to be quite solid. I'm them to be quite difficult. I'm expecting them to be not terribly exciting.
00:30:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they will play on the counter. And we talked about their two strikers a little bit earlier on. So they have got, they might be very effective. They might be very effective.
00:30:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It'd be interesting to see how they get on it.
00:30:46
Ken Davies
You see a couple of 1-0s coming in the group stages.
00:30:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, what he's renowned for here is is installing a lot of mental strength in his players and resilience in his players. So I think what we'll see is, yeah, they can they'll grind results out.
00:30:59
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:31:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they'll have that capability to play for 90, 95, 100 minutes and concentrate and focus on not letting goals. I think nothing think that's what we'll say.
00:31:07
Ken Davies
Burnley. It's Burnley.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah You said that right at the top, didn't you?
00:31:09
Ken Davies
Burnley on a world's tail.
00:31:10
Ken Davies
Yeah.
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. um In total, then, he has overseen 66 games with L3. And if you're wondering why they're called L3, then you clearly haven't been listening to the last 10 minutes this podcast.
00:31:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah but So go back, rewind a little bit, and you will find out.
00:31:25
Ken Davies
yeah
00:31:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
His record is 42 wins, 10 draws and 14 losses. So it's a really good record at international level.
00:31:32
Ken Davies
Excellent.
00:31:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's got a win rate of 68% across all of his three stints.
00:31:36
Ken Davies
That's excellent.
00:31:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, hey he's a good coach. He is a good coach and I expect him to do well.
00:31:44
Ken Davies
He's their go to he's their their go-to man whenever they need a a decent coach. He's also managed six clubs in La Liga. You don't do that if you don't know what you're doing. So I think he's ah yeah ah think he's so he's he's very, very solid coach.
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent. Yeah, I think so too.
Predictions for Mexico in 2026 World Cup
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
which Which then begs the question, Kenny, my friend, where are Mexico going to end up in this World Cup? We always end this podcast with a prediction.
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
The caveat is, of course, that there's still a year to go and a lot can change and players can come and go, etc, etc. etc But where right here right now would you expect Mexico to finish in the World Cup?
00:32:22
Ken Davies
Quarterfinals. I think I'm going to go back to that little interesting note that we made right at the outset of the show today, where we said the two best performances of Mexico ah when they got to the quarterfinals was when they were hosts.
00:32:39
Ken Davies
I think we're going to get the same result this time. I think I can see them in round eight, after the round of eight, i.e. the quarterfinals. Can't see them getting any further. I just think eventually they're going to run into a team that is going to have just enough nous to break them down.
00:32:55
Ken Davies
And I can see them losing 1-0 in that scenario because they don't score tons of goals. But I think they're going have far, far too much and an incredibly passionate crowd behind them, as it is in Mexico.
00:33:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, thank thank you very much. If you had some technical difficulties hearing Ken, he sounded like a badly out-of-tune guitar during that section. ah Apologies for that.
00:33:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
He said Mexico would reach the quarterfinals.
00:33:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think also they will reach the quarterfinals. They've done it twice previously on home ground. And I think they've got a good enough team. And with a year to go to build on that, where they're going to be in with a real shout. I think...
00:33:21
Ken Davies
Thank you.
00:33:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
they are going to finish the highest out of the three nations, the three host nations, that is. i would And that may be because I've kind of grown up with Mexico being a decent side and they've always they've always sort of done well, taking apart that little blip they've had and in the midst of 2010.
00:33:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I am expecting Mexico's quarterfinals, Kansas quarterfinals, and we are shared on that. So that is our prediction them.
00:33:56
Ken Davies
That's very good. You have, of course, got USA as round 16. You've got Canada at round 32. And you've got now Mexico at round eight. So, yeah, that that feels about right.
00:34:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It does. It does.
Next Episode Teaser
00:34:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we shall see. Right, that brings us to the end of this podcast, which is just as well, because think Ken's... Something's collapsed on his side of the of GSPN Towers.
00:34:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Next week, we're going to have a look at another of the teams that have qualified. Ken, any favourites? We've got Japan, we've got Iran, we've got New Zealand to look at.
00:34:27
Ken Davies
Well, we're looking at I think we're off to Iran next time, and I'm very much looking forward to that.
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, Japan it'll be. Okay, Japan it will be. so
00:34:33
Ken Davies
Iran, Iran, Iran.
00:34:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
enjoy yeah Enjoy your week. Join us next time. Ken's going to go and get his internet fixed, I think. Look after yourselves. Look after each other. This has been The Road to the World Cup 26.
00:34:49
Ken Davies
so bye