Mexico vs Honduras
Gold Cup Semis | Levi's Stadium
2 July 2025
The Grass is Always Greener
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers the Mexican media decided to change up the metrics for success and declared that regional rivals Canada and the United States had surpassed the Mexican national team.
Never mind that Mexico is the most dominant team in CONCACAF. That they have a FIFA Confederations Cup, Two U-17 World Cup's and an Olympic Gold medal in their coffers. That had been pushed aside. What mattered now was which national team had the most players in the top European leagues.
And what better proof than the head to head matches during the CONCACAF third round World Cup qualifying phase. The new and improved Octogonal qualifying had both Canada (1-1) and the U.S (0-0) taking a point from the dreaded Azteca stadium. And then beating Mexico 2-1 and 2-0 in their respective homes!
It didnt matter that in the final standings of the Octogonal Mexico finished in 2nd place, tied in points with Canada, and ahead of the United States. The die had been cast. A first round exit at the Qatar World Cup further cemented the predicament that the regional rivals had surpassed Mexico which were in their end times. A complete overhaul of the nation's football system was in order. Burn it all down they said.
And what did the regional rivals renassaince yield at the World Cup: a combined total of one win with the U.S. defeating mighty Iran one-nil. And Canada losing every game to finish their group stage participation with 0 points and a -5 goal differential. In the ensuing knockout stage (round of 16) the U.S. was taken apart 3-1 by the Netherlands.
These results again didnt matter. What mattered was that Mexico had not had a player in a top European club since Rafael Marquez days with Barcelona. Mexican players were struggling to compete in Liga MX while Canada and the U.S. top players were competing in the Champions League!
The next "I told you so" came in the form of the 2024 Copa America hosted by the United States. Mexico, which were on their second coach, once again failed to get out of the group stage. And were now looking for a third coach to take over the reigns.
Hosts the United States also failed to get out of the group stage and only scored 3 points to Mexico's four. Canada also with four points product of 1-0 win over Peru and a scoreless draw over Chile advanced to the knockout stage where they defeated Venezuela via penalty kicks. They were then defeated by eventual champions Argentina in the semifinals finishing the tourney in a respectable 4th place.
While Mexico was being judged harshly the Mexican pundits praised a Canada that only won one game in regulation time. It is like they forgotten that Mexico has been in two Copa America finals and bested pretty much every CONMEBOL rival in the group stage and beyond. That was in the past they said, plus it was done with majority Liga MX players which didn't fit the Europe or bust narrative.
This brings us to the 2025 Gold Cup. Canada was knocked out of the tournament by minnows Guatemala. While perennial hosts the United States had to claw their way to the semifinals with a penalty kicks victory over Costa Rica.
Regardless of how the Gold Cup ends one thing has been made clear which is that the golden generations of Canada and U.S. have yet to surpass the Mexican national team's achievements. All three national team's will be hosting the 2026 World Cup which should put a nail in the coffin of who's who of CONCACAF. However, knowing the soap opera influenced Mexican media I'm sure they will come up with a new metric of success.
Joel E Aceves
Gold Cup: Failure is Not an Option for Mexico
We’re exactly one year away from Mexico’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup—and this team still doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Winning the CONCACAF Nations League was a step forward, but let’s be honest: these “Mickey Mouse” tournaments aren’t preparing us for what’s coming. Canada was hyped after finishing first in World Cup Qualifying, only to crash out of the 2022 World Cup without a single win. This region simply isn’t pushing Mexico to the level required for true international success. Winning the Nations League and Gold Cup should be the bare minimum.
The recent friendlies against Switzerland and Turkey were far more valuable. That’s the kind of opposition Mexico needs—teams that test our tactics, resilience, and quality. We need to be scheduling matches against top-10 nations and facing diverse playing styles from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Competing once again in the Gold Cup this summer feels like a missed opportunity.
So what should expectations be for Mexico at the World Cup next year? Historically as hosts, the quarterfinals have been our ceiling. Based on current form and the available player pool? Round of 16 looks more realistic—and that’s not good enough.
Yes, you can only beat who’s in front of you. But another lackluster Gold Cup showing could cost Javier Aguirre his job. Failure is simply not an option. Mexico must win—and win convincingly—this summer.
-Jaime Landeros 11 June 2025
Much Ado about Cheech
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez return to Club Deportivo Guadalajara for the Clausura 2024 season brought much needed excitement to the Chiva faithful. Chivas had recently lost a league final against Tigres, despite having a two-goal lead. And were desperate to make another run for a championship that seems to orbit the club's atmosphere every 10 years. Perhaps, Chicharito was the missing piece of the puzzle needed to win the league title.
Such was the excitement and expectations for Hernandez that his presentation was made at a sold out Akron stadium. A feat never seen before in Liga MX.
The club spared no expense in announcing Chicharitos return: fireworks, cheerleaders, clowns, midgets and ballooons decorated the stadium. There were even video recordings on the stadium's big screen of Hernandez former coaches Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti wishing him the best.
And just like the firework display fizzled out so did the excitement for Chicharito. Having scored only one goal in the season the expectation was perhaps Chicha will light up for the playoffs. However, Hernandez firepower went missing like a rent-a-center payment and Chivas were eventually eliminated by archival club America in the semi-finals.
"I am honored of the wonderful family that is Chivas. I have no doubt that we will recover from this and return much better for the next tourney," Hernandez said after the match.
Unfortunately for Chivas they did not recover nor did they return much better for the Apertura 2025 season. The club failed to qualify for the league playoffs with Chicha maintaining his one-goal per tourney quota.
It is believed that Hernandez only has six months left in his contract basically until the end of the upcoming Liga MX Apertura 2025 season. Chivas has already brought Argentine Gabriel Milito to manage the club and expectations are once again renewed that the club can push for some silverware.
Hernandez can either play a swan song or continue on his pseudo-motivational speaker routine that have fans cringing. Sadly, I don't expect much from Cheech at this point. And see him as a hindrance, specially given his high salary and the clubs monetary woes. "Imaginemos cosas Chingonas," Hernandez once said. And that's where he seems to have remained in imagination land.
-Joel Aceves
Ciao Chivas
To no one’s surprise, Chivas have failed to qualify for the 2025 Clausura Play-In Tournament. And yet, I can’t help but feel disappointed. Everything was lining up for Chivas to sneak into that 10th seed spot. Tigres took care of business against Pumas — all Chivas had to do was win. A tall ask, sure, considering they only managed one away win all season (ironically, against Pumas). But Estadio Jalisco is familiar territory — it used to be their home.
Hugo Camberos returned to the starting lineup and looked ready to carry the team on his back. Just 30 minutes in, he broke the deadlock and gave Chivas the lead. But as has become painfully familiar, the joy didn’t last long. Serbian striker Uroš Đurđević struck back for Atlas, notching his 12th goal of the season — tying him with João Paulo and José Zúñiga atop the scoring charts. Once again, Chivas proved most vulnerable right after scoring. It’s a bad habit that’s haunted them all year.
The second half? Brutal. The lack of urgency and intensity from the players made it feel like Gerardo Espinoza had told them at halftime to start their vacation early. Did no one remind them they had to win? That Tigres was beating Pumas? That despite being equal on points and goal difference, Pumas would leapfrog Chivas thanks to more goals scored?
Atlas looked more likely to steal the win. Đurđević, chasing Atlas’ first-ever golden boot, nearly got it in stoppage time — only to be denied by Tala Rangel in the dying seconds.
In the end, Atlas crushed Chivas’ slim playoff hopes. For Atlas fans, that heartbreak might be even sweeter than a win.
Now, Chivas face a long offseason with more questions than answers. Some clarity is already here — the front office announced Espinoza’s departure, and shut down rumors linking Mateo Chávez to AZ Alkmaar. Hugo Camberos is still negotiating a contract extension. Will Chivas try to offload Chicharito this summer? Are they entering a rebuild? Will Amaury Vergara finally show his face? And most importantly — who’s next in the dugout?
The season ends in familiar fashion: early exits, fan frustration, and another reset. For a club with Chivas’ history, that shouldn’t be the norm. But right now, it feels like it is.
-Jaime Landeros
Puto Chant: American Homophobia or Mexican Shithousery?
By Athai Juarez
In a league plagued by financial inequality, safety concerns, and declining viewership, both U.S. Soccer and MLS have chosen to focus their attention elsewhere—on the pitch—by villainizing the very fanbase that fills their stadiums week in and week out: the Mexican fan.
The narrative of “Bad Hombres” didn’t suddenly emerge in 2015—it’s a sentiment that’s long existed, even before the rise of the now-infamous “Puto chant.” This controversial chant originated in Guadalajara in 2004 and gradually gained popularity across Mexico before inevitably crossing the border into U.S. stadiums. But to fully understand its reception here, it’s essential to consider the political climate of the time.
In 2004, President George W. Bush was seeking reelection amidst declining approval ratings due to the Iraq invasion and the War on Terror. His strategist, Karl Rove, shifted the national discourse to populist issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, weaponizing cultural wedge topics. Over the next few years, the U.S. saw a spike in hate crimes against LGBTQIA+ individuals and medical professionals at abortion clinics. This era also marked a cultural and ideological tug-of-war that culminated in a political shift toward more inclusionary values.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s national soccer team was thriving, rising in dominance over the U.S. team. Around the same time, the “Puto chant” became more prominent, often shouted alongside the iconic U.S. “Dos a Cero” chants. By the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the chant reached a global stage, prompting an investigation by FIFA’s disciplinary committee after it was heard during matches against Cameroon and Brazil. The investigation was ultimately dismissed, with FIFA stating the chant was not insulting in the specific context.
Ask most Mexican fans, and they’ll tell you the chant is a form of psychological gamesmanship—a way to rattle the opposing goalkeeper—not an expression of homophobia. In fact, many argue that outsiders simply don’t grasp the nuances of Mexican idiosyncrasy, where football is a way of life and deeply embedded in cultural expression. This perspective is reinforced by Mexico’s own historical acknowledgment of gender fluidity and third-gender roles, which date back to pre-Columbian times. One of today’s most beloved Mexican public figures is Wendy Guevara, a trans woman, further reflecting the nation’s growing visibility and acceptance.
Still, under international pressure—primarily from the U.S. Soccer Federation—the Mexican fanbase has increasingly come under fire. Matches are being paused or threatened with cancellation. Fines are levied. The label of “homophobic” has been stamped across the entire supporter culture.
And yet, the irony couldn’t be more glaring: this outrage peaks at a time when American policies are scaling back protections for the very communities they claim to defend. Across the U.S., gay and trans rights are under renewed attack from both state and federal legislatures.
So, the lingering question remains:
Was this ever really a Mexican problem—or just a mirror being held up to a more uncomfortable American truth?
Pauno TV
Defender Jesús Orozco Chiquete, in a recent appearance on the Reportero Podcast, mentioned that under coach Veljko Paunović, Chivas introduced him to coaching methods he had never experienced with a Mexican manager. Chiquete noted that he had never had a coach place such strong emphasis on throw-ins, quoting Paunović as saying, “You can create an attacking chance from throw-ins.”
The most attention-grabbing part of the interview, however, was Chiquete’s admission that he had never previously watched opponent film. He explained that Paunović regularly had the team study footage of their upcoming opponents, making small tactical adjustments depending on who they were facing.
This has sparked a broader conversation, with many now asking: Are Mexican coaches falling behind in modern coaching methods?
-Eduardo Gutierrez