المكسيك تتخطى أستراليا بهدف نظيف في اختبار أخير محموم قبل المونديال

Mexico used a dominant first-half showing and a set-piece goal to beat Australia 1-0 at a sold-out Rose Bowl on Saturday, closing both teams' preparations before the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins next week .

Defender Johan Vásquez headed home an Alexis Vega corner in the 28th minute to give co-hosts El Tri a confidence-building victory, while the Socceroos were left searching for answers in attack ahead of the tournament .

Match-Defining Moment

The game's only goal came from a familiar source: a set piece. Vega's outswinging corner found Vásquez, who powered a header into the net, scoring what would prove to be the winning goal . Australia’s best chance to level came on the stroke of halftime, when a defensive mix-up by Mexico gifted striker Mohamed Toure a clear look at goal, but he failed to convert .

Team Performances

Mexico: Confident and in Control

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre made nine changes from the side that beat Ghana 2-0 in their previous friendly, but the rotation didn't disrupt the team's rhythm . El Tri controlled possession and the tempo from the opening whistle, pinning the 15th-ranked Socceroos back for long stretches and looking sharp on dead-ball situations . The performance will be a major morale boost as they prepare to open the tournament against South Africa on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca .

Australia: Toothless and Frustrated

The Socceroos endured a torrid first half, described by ESPN as “plodding, frustrating, and largely ineffectual” . They were outshot, outpossessed, and generally overwhelmed by Mexico's pressure, struggling to string passes together in the rare moments they won the ball . A more organized second-half showing yielded no real scoring threats, underscoring a persistent lack of finishing that has followed the team into their final camp .

A Hostile, Packed House

Nearly 80,000 fans crammed into the Rose Bowl, creating a “raucous, parochial” atmosphere that heavily favored Mexico . The crowd provided a taste of the fervent support El Tri will enjoy as tournament co-hosts.

Squad Selection Headache for Popovic

The match served as the final audition for the 29 players in Australia's pre-camp training, with coach Tony Popovic required to submit his final 26-man squad by the June 1 deadline . Going into the game, Popovic said he was “very close” to finalizing his roster, having earlier estimated that about 18 of the 26 spots were locked in, a view supported by the fact that eight players had already been cut on Monday before the squad traveled to California .

The uninspired performance, particularly up front, likely complicated the final trimming from 29 to 26, with the remaining spots for attacking players now under the harshest spotlight .

What's Next: Tournament Schedules

Mexico (Group A)

As co-hosts, Mexico will kick off the 2026 World Cup in Group A alongside South Africa, Korea Republic, and Czechia. Their schedule:

• June 11 – vs. South Africa (Estadio Azteca, Mexico City) – tournament opener
• Group A action continues in Guadalajara and Atlanta

Australia (Group D)

The Socceroos will open their campaign on the West Coast of North America in a tough Group D with the United States, Paraguay, and Turkey. All kick-off times are listed in AEST.

• June 14, 2:00 p.m. – vs. Turkey (BC Place, Vancouver)
• June 20, 5:00 a.m. – vs. USA (Lumen Field, Seattle)
• June 26, 12:00 p.m. – vs. Paraguay (Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara)