The Mexican national team finally conquered the CONCACAF Nations League on U.S. soil, securing a 2-1 victory over Canada in the final on Sunday night, thanks to a brace from Raúl Jiménez. However, despite lifting the trophy, Mexican media remain skeptical about the team’s success.
Critics Question Mexico’s Triumph
ESPN Mexico’s Álvaro Morales dismissed the victory, attributing it to Panama’s mistakes rather than Mexico’s dominance.
“What luck Javier Aguirre has. Thanks to a mistake by the Panamanian goalkeeper and a blatant handball, Vasco becomes the Nations League champion. You barely managed to beat Panama.”
Similarly, David Faitelson of TUDN cautioned against overhyping the win:
“Attention reminder: they beat Canada and Panama… let’s not start getting carried away.”
The skepticism stems from the belief that Mexico didn’t defeat any “big” teams, especially after the United States’ surprising elimination by Panama.
Mexico’s Response to the Critics
Mexico’s goalkeeper responded to the criticism, referencing a TUDN podcast:
“I watched your podcast, man, with David in the morning… what a jinx. I’m grateful to life and to Vaca because they jinxed me.”
Despite the media scrutiny, Javier Aguirre’s squad faces a crucial 2025, including:
- Friendlies vs. Switzerland (June 7) and Turkey (June 10) in the U.S.
- Gold Cup defense from June 14 to July 6
- A possible friendly against Japan in September
While critics argue Mexico’s Nations League title doesn’t prove much, Aguirre and his squad are focused on a bigger goal—preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
