Aguirre brings back memories from 1986 to motivate Mexico's debut
Coach Javier Aguirre used his memories of the last World Cup played in Mexico to protect and motivate his players on the eve of their debut against South Africa. Four decades after taking the field as a player at the Azteca Stadium, the 67-year-old commander stated this Wednesday that no experience in his 50-year career compares to the emotion of playing in a World Cup at home.
"I haven't had a greater emotion in 50 years of football than a World Cup at home," Aguirre told reporters before the Group A clash. "It's something unforgettable."
Mexico opens the tournament this Thursday (11) carrying the weight of expectations of a nation passionate about football. Given this, the coach revealed at a press conference a statistic that he was unaware of: the Mexicans will try to make history by seeking the country's first victory in a World Cup opening game, after seven failed attempts throughout history.
"So we have one more reason to win tomorrow. Let's break this statistic", reacted the coach when informed about the taboo.
Emotional balance against favoritism
Although Mexico is seen as the clear favorite to beat the South Africans, Aguirre highlighted that the home factor will only make a difference if the athletes know how to control the anxiety and pressure of more than 80 thousand fans.
Focus on the 90 minutes: "You can't go crazy", he warned. "Everyone wants to settle the game in the first half, but the match lasts 90 minutes."
Mental factor: According to the coach, the preparation for the debut in front of his audience goes beyond the four lines: "It's not just about football, it's about emotional balance."
What an unforgettable day for all of Mexico!
The #VocesTricolor of our DT, Javier Aguirre, on the day of his Mundialista debut against Sudáfrica.
Detalles https://t.co/xs0qpDRKLZ#SomosMéxico pic.twitter.com/Tr3LVEjq1Z
- National Selección (@miseleccionmx) June 10, 2026
From the grass to the bench
Aguirre has the ability to talk about Azteca's pressure. He was a member of Mexico's squad at the 1986 World Cup and played the opening match against Belgium on that same pitch. Later, as a coach, he led the team at the 2002 and 2010 World Cups.
Now in his third stint in charge of the national team, he tries to convey to the athletes the same security he felt when he was a player. "I remember the confidence with which we took to the field to face Belgium. I want to convey to the players that tomorrow could be a great day for us, a celebration that will be remembered for decades", he concluded.
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Source: CNN