Davino Confirms Mexico’s Friendly Matches on the Road to the World Cup

Duilio Davino has outlined key details of Mexico’s preparation plan for the upcoming World Cup, confirming that Querétaro will be one of the host cities for the national team’s friendly matches. The Mexican Federation executive expressed satisfaction with both the calendar and the level of opponents scheduled throughout the World Cup cycle.

Davino explained that the federation successfully secured matches against national teams from multiple confederations, a strategy designed to test El Tri in diverse and demanding scenarios ahead of the global tournament. He confirmed that friendly games are already set for January, February, and March against Panama, Bolivia, Iceland, Portugal, and Belgium. He also revealed that three additional opponents will be announced in the coming weeks to complete the schedule.

“We are very happy with the opponents we have been able to secure throughout almost the entire World Cup cycle. We have faced teams from all confederations,” Davino said. According to the executive, this variety is intentional and essential for measuring Mexico’s competitive level against different playing styles and tactical approaches.

A key detail in the planning is that several of these matches will not take place during FIFA international windows. This opens an important opportunity for Liga MX players, who will have more chances to feature and make a case for inclusion. Davino emphasized that these games will be crucial for head coach Javier Aguirre as he evaluates players and fine-tunes the final squad list for the World Cup.

“That gives Liga MX players the chance to showcase themselves and gives Javier Aguirre the opportunity to finish shaping the roster,” Davino added. Playing outside FIFA dates allows the coaching staff to expand the player pool and assess depth across multiple positions.

On home soil, Querétaro will host the friendly against Iceland, a European opponent seen as a valuable benchmark. The match is expected to provide insight into how Mexico might fare against similar teams in a potential World Cup group stage.

Davino also addressed the situation of striker Santiago Giménez, confirming that the forward will undergo a detailed medical evaluation over the next couple of days. Any decision regarding his availability will be made jointly with his club, reinforcing the federation’s cautious approach to player health during this critical preparation phase.