*This content was translated by AI.
Mexico, South Korea's opponent in the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, is facing severe trouble from the very first step of preparation. A conflict between the Mexican Football Federation and professional league clubs over player call-ups has erupted.
On the 6th (Korea time), the Mexican Football Federation issued a statement warning sternly: "Players who fail to report to the Mexico City training center as instructed by the national team coaching staff will be excluded from the final World Cup roster." Head coach Javier Aguirre also took a firm stance at a press conference, stating, "This is a project agreed upon long ago; there is absolutely no room for compromise."
The root of the conflict lies in the national team's early call-up plan. As a co-host, Mexico aimed to maximize organizational strength by initially selecting 12 players from its domestic league, Liga MX, for a long pre-camp lasting approximately five and a half weeks. However, due to clashes with key schedules of their respective clubs, the clubs suddenly adopted a non-cooperative attitude.
Immediately, defenders Jesus Gallardo and forward Alexis Vega of Toluca found it virtually impossible to join the camp on time. They participated in their club's training ahead of the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals against LAFC on the 7th at home.
Even Amaury Vergara, owner of CD Guadalajara, where five players were called up, posted an explicit request to delay the call-up on his social media (SNS). After losing the first leg 1-3, the team faced an urgent need to win the second leg of the playoffs on the 10th, prompting him to plead for the national team players to be allowed to participate in that match.
Attention is now focused on how the conflict between the domestic league and player call-ups, which erupted just before the World Cup, will affect Mexico's competitiveness in the tournament.
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*This content was translated by AI.
