Mexico vs Portugal – News and Probable Lineups

On Sunday, Portugal, without Cristiano Ronaldo, will face 2026 World Cup co-hosts México in a friendly match.

This game signifies the official re-opening of the historic Estadio Banorte, which was previously known as Estadio Azteca, in México City after nearly two years of substantial renovations in preparation for the World Cup.

Match overview

There is a palpable excitement surrounding Portugal matches when five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo – also the all-time men’s international goalscorer (143) – is showcasing his skill on the global stage, but the iconic forward will not participate in Sunday’s match due to a hamstring injury sustained while with Al-Nassr.

The 41-year-old is “getting better every day” as he undergoes private rehabilitation, but his absence has caused issues with ticket sales ahead of Portugal’s visit to México, with organizers reportedly struggling to sell seats priced around $100 after tickets had initially been sold for over $500 when Ronaldo was expected to play.

Ronaldo netted five goals in the last five appearances, helping Portugal secure automatic advancement to this summer’s World Cup, with Roberto Martinez’s squad finishing first in Group F with 13 points (W4 D1 L1) ahead of Republic of Irlanda, Hungria and Armênia.

Ranked sixth in the world by FIFA and viewed by many as a likely contender for the championship this summer, Portugal performed admirably without the suspended Ronaldo in their final qualification match, crushing Armênia 9-1 in Porto in mid-November, with Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves each scoring hat-tricks.

Selecao das Quinas have lost only two out of their last 16 international games across all competitions in the past 20 months – during which they claimed their second UEFA Nations League title in June 2025 – and they have not lost any of their five previous encounters with this weekend’s rivals, México.

México will have the privilege of starting the 2026 World Cup in their capital on June 11, with the renowned Estadio Banorte – officially called México City Stadium for the tournament – to be the first venue to host three World Cup opening matches following those in 1970 and 1986.

As co-hosts of this summer’s significant event alongside the United States and Canadá, México have sidestepped the challenges of qualification and have not participated in a competitive match since their Gold Cup triumph over the USA in July 2025.

Since securing that final with a 2-1 scoreline, México have played nine friendly matches against teams across four different continents. Javier Aguirre’s squad failed to achieve victory in the first six encounters (D4 L2), most notably suffering a 4-0 defeat to Colômbia, but they have found success in their last three outings against Panamá, Bolívia, and Islândia earlier this year.

Consecutive 1-0 victories over Panamá and Bolívia in January were followed by a 4-0 win against Islândia at the end of February – El Tri have lost just one of their last five matches against European teams since the beginning of the 2022 World Cup (W2 D2).

However, ranked 16th by FIFA, they have struggled in past encounters against Portugal. They have lost three out of their last four meetings (D1), with the most recent setback being a 2-1 loss after extra time during the FIFA Confederations Cup in July 2017.

Team News

México’s squad is missing Edson Alvarez, Marcel Ruiz, and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, who all started in midfield during last year’s Gold Cup final. Hirving Lozano and Julian Araujo are also significant absentees.

Nevertheless, veteran México goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, aged 40, is back in the squad for the first time since May 2025 and the 151-cap stalwart will aim to make a noteworthy impact as he seeks to participate in his sixth consecutive World Cup this summer.

Spanish midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo, who transferred from Club America to Real Betis in February, is poised to make his debut at the age of 28 after receiving his first senior call-up, while players such as Raul Jimenez, Jesus Gallardo, and Orbelin Pineda will also be vying for a starting position.

For Portugal, Ronaldo’s absence is complemented by the sidelining of first-choice goalkeeper Diogo Costa, AC Milan forward Rafael Leao, and young talent Rodrigo Mora, while Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, and Joao Palhinha have been excluded due to fitness concerns.

After earning his first three caps for Portugal five years ago, 33-year-old striker Paulinho – who plays for Mexican club Toluca – has returned to the senior team and is expected to compete with Goncalo Ramos and Goncalo Guedes for the centre-forward role. Additionally, Pedro Neto and Joao Felix could offer attacking support from wider positions.

México probable starting XI:

Rangel; Ledezma, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Gutierrez, Fidalgo, Pineda; Alvarado, Jimenez, Vega

Portugal probable starting XI:

Sa; CANCELLO, A. Silva, Inácio, Mendes; J. Neves, R. Neves, B. Fernandes; NETO, Ramos, Felix

It remains uncertain how strong both sides will field their teams, but on paper, Portugal certainly has the edge. Even without Ronaldo, Martinez’s squad will likely be viewed as the favorites.

México should not be underestimated in their own stadium, yet we anticipate the visitors to secure a narrow win.