Mexico continues its preparation schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a friendly match against Turkiye on Tuesday. This game takes place as the one-year countdown to the tournament, which Mexico will co-host, officially begins.
El Tri is currently in the final stages of preparation for the Concacaf Gold Cup, which represents their last opportunity to secure major silverware before next year`s World Cup. Mexico recently won their first-ever Concacaf Nations League title in March, marking a significant achievement early in Javier Aguirre`s third tenure as head coach.
Tuesday`s fixture against Turkiye is Mexico`s second friendly match ahead of the Gold Cup. Their previous friendly ended in a 4-2 defeat to Switzerland, where Santiago Gimenez registered his fifth international goal and veteran Angel Sepulveda added another from the bench.
Meanwhile, Turkiye is concluding its international window in the U.S. before their World Cup qualifying campaign commences in September. They are aiming to qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2002. Their trip started positively with a 2-1 victory over the U.S. men`s national team on Saturday, featuring goals from Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu.
Here is essential information ahead of the match.
Match Details
- Date: Tuesday, June 10
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- TV: Univision
- Live stream: Fubo
- Odds: Mexico +150; Draw +235; Turkiye +170
Recent Encounters
This upcoming fixture marks the first-ever meeting between the senior national football teams of Mexico and Turkiye.
Mexico`s Perspective
Following the defeat to Switzerland, the Mexican team faced criticism, particularly concerning their attacking display. Coach Javier Aguirre acknowledged the poor performance but highlighted the positive contributions of Santiago Giménez and Angel Sepulveda.
Aguirre stated, “It`s never good to lose… We didn`t play well… It was a game with many takeaways – more negatives than positives. We welcome the criticism; we will show what we are capable of at the Gold Cup. There will be rotations against Turkiye; that`s what these friendlies are for.”
Turkiye`s Perspective
Head coach Vincenzo Montella sees this friendly as the conclusion of their current phase before focusing on World Cup qualifiers in September. He acknowledged Mexico as a tough opponent and emphasized the importance of finishing this period strongly.
Montella indicated that the match might offer opportunities for young players to gain international experience, stating the importance of a balanced approach to development and evaluation within their game plan.
Projected Starting Lineups
- Mexico: Malagon; Araujo, Montes, Chavez, Lara; Mora, Alvarez, Pineda; Vega, Gimenez, Jimenez
- Turkiye: Ozer; Celik, Demiral, Akaydin, Ozcan; Yuksek, Ayhan; Aydin, Guler, Yildiz; Akturkoglu
Key Player
Santiago Gimenez, Mexico: Mexico`s attack has been under scrutiny, but Santiago Gimenez has earned a potential starting spot through his club performances. Despite scoring 26 goals for Feyenoord and AC Milan last season, his international goal tally stood at just five before Saturday`s match. A strong performance this summer could be crucial in transforming Mexico`s attack from a perceived weakness into a strength.
Focus Storyline
The World Cup Ahead: Although the 2026 World Cup is still a year away (and Turkiye`s qualification is not yet secured), preparations are clearly a priority for national teams globally. Both Mexico and Turkiye will likely use this friendly to experiment with players and tactics. The goal is not just to participate, but to perform well. For Mexico, hosting the tournament adds pressure to impress and improve upon their 2022 group stage exit. Turkiye, meanwhile, is aiming to return to the tournament for the first time since their notable third-place finish in 2002.
Match Prediction
Given that both teams may prioritize experimentation in this friendly, predicting the outcome is challenging. However, Turkiye`s attack, particularly with the potential involvement of Arda Guler, appears potentially more potent at this moment. This could give Turkiye a slight edge.
Predicted Score: Mexico 1, Turkiye 2
