With Tomas Soucek leading the squad, Czechia face a challenging path ahead. They earned their ticket through the UEFA playoffs, leading many fans to believe they are not the favorites to advance from Group A.

With Czechia and Korea Republic already announcing their rosters, everyone is wondering when Mexico will reveal their selection. Mexico have until June 1st to do so, but reports suggest Javier Aguirre may unveil the final list well before the deadline.

Czechia’s roster for the 2026 World Cup

Czechia are ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Head coach Miroslav Koubek has selected the best players available to fight in Group A for a spot in the Round of 16, though it will be no easy task for them.

Led by West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, the European squad will face Mexico, South Africa, and Korea Republic. The hosts, Mexico, enter as the favorites, with the Asians and Czechs trailing in the odds, while Bafana Bafana could potentially emerge as dangerous dark horses.

Here is the list of players who will represent Czechia in the upcoming World Cup:

• Goalkeepers: Lukas Hornicek (Braga), Matej Kovar (PSV Eindhoven), and Jindrich Stanek (Slavia Prague).
• Defenders: Vladimir Coufal (Hoffenheim), David Doudera (Slavia Prague), Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague), Robin Hranac (Hoffenheim), Stepan Chaloupek (Slavia Prague), David Jurasek (Slavia Prague), Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton), Jaroslav Zeleny (Slavia Prague), and David Zima (Slavia Prague).
• Midfielders: Pavel Bucha (FC Cincinnati), Lukas Cerv (Viktoria Plzen), Vladimir Darida (Hradec Kralove), Tomas Ladra (Viktoria Plzen), Lukas Provod (Slavia Prague), Michal Sadilek (Slavia Prague), Hugo Sochurek (Sparta Prague), Alexandr Sojka (Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Soucek (West Ham United), Pavel Sulc (Olympique de Lyon), and Denis Visinsky (Viktoria Plzen).
• Forwards: Adam Hlozek (Hoffenheim), Tomas Chory (Slavia Prague), Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague), Christophe Kabongo (Mlada Boleslav), Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague), and Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen).

On Tuesday night, reports emerged that Toluca would have Alexis Vega and Jesus Gallardo back for their Concacaf Champions Cup match against LAFC. This development sparked a firestorm because Mexico, who recently drew 1-1 with Belgium, had already called up several Liga MX players, including Vega and Gallardo, for World Cup preparations. While teams initially agreed to release players despite the ongoing Liga MX Playoffs, Toluca’s sudden ability to reclaim their stars for a specific match triggered a heated dispute among other club owners.

Chivas owner Amaury Vergara responded by indicating that his players, who were scheduled to report to the National Team on Wednesday, should also be allowed back to face Tigres in the Leg 2 quarterfinal on Saturday, calling them immediately back to Guadalajara. Just hours later, the Mexican National Team issued a stern ultimatum: if any called-up players do not report to the training camp by Wednesday at 10:00 PM (ET), they will be officially excluded from the World Cup roster.

Toluca found a loophole in the agreement

Initially, the FMF established a list of Liga MX players required for the final preparation phase before the World Cup. El Tricolor indicated that while many were called to camp, not all would make the final cut, creating tension regarding which players were truly essential. Liga MX clubs that agreed to release players mid-Playoffs did so under the understanding that those players were virtually guaranteed a spot on the final list; otherwise, losing them during a title run would be senseless.

However, Toluca exploited a specific loophole in the paperwork. While the agreement between Liga MX and the FMF focused on player availability for the domestic Playoffs, Toluca are currently competing in both the Liguilla and the Concacaf Champions Cup. Toluca successfully argued for the return of Vega and Gallardo specifically for the international match against LAFC, rather than their local series against Pachuca, a distinction that caught the FMF off guard.

This technicality has made the situation incredibly complicated. Chivas, currently releasing five players to the National Team, argue they should have the same right to use their stars against Tigres. However, the FMF views the situations differently because Toluca refrained from using Vega or Gallardo in their domestic quarterfinal against Pachuca, whereas Chivas are requesting them for Liga MX play.

With only hours remaining before the 10:00 PM deadline, the Chivas players called to the National Team were reportedly still in Guadalajara as of Wednesday morning. While they could theoretically travel to report to Javier Aguirre’s camp before the cutoff, the tension is high. It remains to be seen if Aguirre will follow through on his threat to drop anyone who misses the deadline from the World Cup squad.

An opportunity opens for Guillermo Ochoa

Jose Raul “Tala” Rangel is currently the frontrunner to be Mexico’s starting goalkeeper in the World Cup. The problem is that Rangel is one of the five Chivas players currently in Guadalajara. If he fails to arrive at the National Team concentration by Wednesday night, he risks being left out of the tournament entirely.

If Rangel is excluded, a massive opportunity emerges for Guillermo Ochoa. The veteran, who is already set to appear in a record-breaking sixth World Cup, would find a much easier path to the final roster. Without Rangel in the picture, Memo could move from a mentor role back into the conversation for the starting spot on June 11.

However, the six-star club was expected to have a third member. Guillermo Ochoa, who—like Messi and Ronaldo—has been present at every edition since Germany 2006, is now facing reports that he may be left out of Javier Aguirre’s final plans for the Mexican national team.

Should Ochoa fail to represent his country this summer, the 40-year-old goalkeeper would remain at five participations, leaving the path clear for Messi and Ronaldo to become the only players in history to reach the six-tournament milestone.

The battle for Mexico’s goal

Reports from Mexico indicate that Raúl ‘Tala’ Rangel (Chivas) and Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna) have virtually secured their spots following the devastating Achilles injury to Luis Angel Malagon, which has ruled the expected starter out of the World Cup.

The battle for the final goalkeeping slot appears to be between veteran Jose Antonio Rodriguez (Xolos) and Ochoa. Currently, Rodriguez seems to have the edge in the eyes of the coaching staff.

“All I know is that Javier [Aguirre] has had talks with Antonio; whether he will call him up, I don’t know,” a member of Aguirre’s staff told Mexican outlet Record. “Personally, Antonio is a goalkeeper with good stats and the level to be at the World Cup, but Javier has the final word”.

Messi and Cristiano chasing the all-time scoring throne

The appearance record isn’t the only history on the line for these legends. Both Messi and Ronaldo are likely entering their final World Cup and have one last chance to become the competition’s all-time top scorer.

Achieving this record will be no easy feat for either player, as Germany’s Miroslav Klose continues to hold the all-time mark with 16 goals. Messi is currently the closest to catching the legendary striker, sitting at 13 goals after his dominant performance in Qatar, where he netted seven goals.

Ronaldo, on the other hand, faces a much steeper climb. With 8 career World Cup goals, the Portuguese captain would need to double his current tally in a single tournament to equal Klose—a monumental challenge even for one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the sport.

Mexico controlled much of the first half, creating the most dangerous chances and neutralizing Belgium’s midfield. Jorge Sanchez found the opener after a corner, rewarding a strong collective performance led by Julian Quinones, who consistently caused problems in the attack.

Belgium improved significantly in the second half, with Dodi Lukebakio scoring a standout equalizer moments after the restart. The game became more physical and balanced, with both teams battling in midfield but struggling to create clear chances late on. In the end, both sides shared the points after a competitive encounter.

[Watch Mexico vs Belgium online in the US on Fubo]

The international friendly window closes with Mexico and Belgium meeting in a matchup featuring teams in contrasting form. Mexico is coming off an uneven scoreless draw against Portugal and will look for a sharper attacking display.

On the other hand will be Belgium, who arrives with confidence after a dominant 5-2 win over the United States. With one side seeking momentum and the other aiming to stay hot, this finale shapes up as a must-watch.

When will the Mexico vs Belgium match be played?

Mexico play against Belgium in a 2026 friendly game this Tuesday, March 31, with the match kicking off at 9:00 PM (ET).

Mexico vs Belgium: Time by State in the USA

ET: 9:00 PM
CT: 8:00 PM
MT: 7:00 PM
PT: 6:00 PM

How to watch Mexico vs Belgium in the USA

This Friendly clash between Mexico and Belgium will be available for viewers in the USA on Fubo. Other options: DirecTV Stream, Univision, TUDN, FOX Deportes and ViX.

Mexico generated the clearest chances, especially in the first half, relying on their midfield pressure and quick transitions to trouble Portugal. However, they were unable to capitalize, while Portugal grew into the match after halftime with better possession and rhythm.

In the end, neither side managed to break the deadlock, but the match served as a valuable test ahead of the World Cup, both in terms of competition and for Estadio Azteca as a key venue.

Ronaldo is not playing due to injury and precaution. Portugal’s leading scorer is not called up by Roberto Martinez for this FIFA window and does not travel to North America for the friendlies against Mexico and the United States. Cristiano continues to deal with a hamstring issue suffered on February 28 while playing for Al Nassr in the Saudi league.

Although the injury initially does not appear serious, further tests indicate that he requires more recovery time, leading to his exclusion from the squad to avoid unnecessary risk. The decision reflects a cautious approach with a long-term focus.

Is Ronaldo at risk of missing the World Cup?

The apparent answer is a clear no, which is why the staff are prioritizing his recovery. Head coach Roberto Martinez addresses the situation directly to ease concerns about Ronaldo’s availability for the tournament, making it clear that his participation is not in danger.

“Cristiano is not at risk of missing the World Cup. It is a minor muscle injury and he will return in one or two weeks.” The plan is for him to reach the 2026 World Cup at full fitness, with the tournament set to take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

This Thursday, 48 hours before the friendly in Mexico City, Cristiano confirms his return to training with Al Nassr and enters the final stage of his recovery in Saudi Arabia, preparing to return to official competition in the near future.

How does Portugal look without Cristiano Ronaldo?

Despite the absence, Portugal still feature a talented squad for the friendly, including Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Rafael Leao, Vitinha and Joao Cancelo, among others.

The match serves as an opportunity to test attacking options and build rhythm ahead of the World Cup. However, Portugal also deal with key absences, as Diogo Costa, Rafael Leao and Rodrigo Mora are sidelined, while Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Joao Palhinha and Nelson Semedo are also left out.

Portugal have already secured their place at the World Cup after topping their qualifying group with 13 points from six matches, closing their campaign with a dominant 9-1 win over Armenia in their final game. The team showed consistency and attacking strength throughout the process.

Mexico did not participate in World Cup qualifiers as one of the host nations, so they have relied entirely on friendly matches for preparation. Their most recent outing was a convincing 4-0 win over Iceland, featuring mostly Liga MX players, showing intensity and cohesion, two elements they need against a stronger opponent like Portugal.

Portugal confirmed lineup

Head coach Roberto Martinez will be without several key players for this camp. Cristiano Ronaldo misses out due to a hamstring issue suffered with Al Nassr, and he is joined on the sidelines by Diogo Costa, Rafael Leao and Rodrigo Mora, while Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Joao Palhinha and Nelson Semedo have also been left out.

Portugal’s confirmed starting XI features a 4-3-3 built on midfield control and fluid attacking movement: Rui Silva; Joao Cancelo, Antonio Silva, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Samu Costa, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes; Francisco Conceiçao, Joao Felix, Gonçalo Ramos.

Mexico confirmed lineup

Mexico’s confirmed starting XI features a compact, possession‑oriented structure: Raul Rangel; Jesus Gallardo, Johan Vasquez, Cesar Montes, Israel Reyes; Erik Lira, Alvaro Fidalgo, Omar Vargas, Bryan Gutierrez; Roberto Alvarado, Raul Jimenez.

[Watch Mexico vs Portugal online in the US on Fubo]

Anticipation has been building for this international friendly, particularly among Mexican supporters who had circled the matchup in hopes of watching Cristiano Ronaldo lead Portugal on their home soil against El Tri.

While the Al Nassr star will not feature in the squad, the spotlight remains firmly on a compelling showdown between two teams with their sights set on making noise at the 2026 World Cup. Expect a high-energy battle as each looks to fine-tune its roster ahead of the global stage.

When will the Mexico vs Portugal match be played?

Mexico take on Portugal in a 2026 friendly game this Saturday, March 28, with the match kicking off at 7:00 PM (ET).

Mexico vs Portugal: Time by State in the USA

ET: 7:00 PM
CT: 6:00 PM
MT: 5:00 PM
PT: 4:00 PM

How to watch Mexico vs Portugal in the USA

This Friendly clash between Mexico and Portugal will be available for viewers in the USA on Fubo. Other options: DirecTV Stream, Univision, TUDN, FOX Deportes and ViX.

On an emotional day for Jimenez following the passing of his father, Raul Jimenez Vega, on March 12, the striker sealed Fulham‘s victory with a perfect penalty kick. After the goal, Jimenez was seen in tears, pointing to the sky in a moving tribute to his father.

Jimenez is a true specialist from the spot. With this goal, he has converted 14 out of 14 penalties in the Premier League, extending a record that is beginning to look unreachable.

Raul Jimenez is 14 for 14: Who previously held the record?

With Jimenez maintaining a perfect conversion rate through 14 attempts, fans are wondering if the streak will ever end. As of now, he holds the record for the most penalties taken in the competition without a single miss.

Prior to Jimenez setting this mark, Yaya Toure held the record with 11 consecutive successful penalties. Dimitar Berbatov also appears high on the list, having converted 9 out of 9 during his time in England.

Jimenez aims to be Mexico’s main striker

Following this victory, Raul Jimenez will return home to play for Mexico during the upcoming international break. El Tricolor is set to face Portugal on March 28, 2026, for the grand reopening of the Estadio Azteca, which has officially been renamed Estadio Banorte as part of its World Cup renovations.

With AC Milan’s Santiago Gimenez recently returning to the pitch after a long ankle injury, Raul Jimenez will look to capitalize on this opportunity. By maintaining his current form, he aims to make a statement and position himself as the preferred option for coach Javier Aguirre heading into the 2026 World Cup.

The absence comes amid uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo’s recent injury, which has kept him out of action in recent weeks. As Roberto Martinez to make final decision on Ronaldo’s availability for March friendlies, the coach made it clear that everything would depend on the forward’s fitness — a stance he expressed just a day before ultimately deciding to leave him out of the squad.

Ronaldo’s situation has become a growing talking point, especially given the importance of these friendlies as preparation for the World Cup. Portugal is set to face Mexico at Estadio Azteca and the United States in Atlanta, two key tests before final roster decisions are made.

Injury concerns raise questions about Ronaldo’s role

Ronaldo suffered a hamstring injury in late February while playing for Al Nassr, limiting his recent match activity. Although reports indicate it’s not a long‑term issue, his lack of fitness appears to have influenced Portugal’s decision to leave him out. At 41, he remains a key figure, but his physical condition is under closer scrutiny

Portugal’s squad for March friendlies confirmed

Portugal officially announced its squad for the March friendlies against Mexico and the United States, a list that immediately drew attention due to the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva

Defenders: Matheus Nunes, Diogo Dalot, Joao Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Antonio Silva, Tomas Araujo

Midfielders: Ruben Neves, Samu Costa, Mateus Fernandes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes

Forwards: Rodrigo Mora, Ricardo Horta, Pedro Gonçalves, Joao Félix, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceiçao, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leao, Gonçalo Guedes, Gonçalo Ramos