Mexico defeated Ghana 2-0 in Puebla on Friday in a World Cup warm-up that offered a glimpse of the tension building less than three weeks before the country opens the tournament.
Although Puebla is not among the host cities of the World Cup in Mexico, fans in green shirts created a lively atmosphere all evening. Repeated Mexican waves rolled through the stadium, despite visible empty sections closed under FIFA sanctions related to discriminatory chants during previous national team matches.
Brian Gutierrez immediately set the tone and curled in from the edge of the penalty area after two minutes in the Cuauhtemoc Stadium.
Teenage Liga MX sensation Gil Mora hit the post in the first half and Alexis Vega’s header was ruled out for offside before half-time.
«He’s a different player, we’ve always said that,» Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said of Mora, who played for Mexico for the first time since November after returning from injury.
“He is brave, direct, vertical… he gives us a lot of joy because he is Mexican and because he is back without pain.”
Ghana, with recently appointed coach Carlos Queiroz absent and assistants from the bench, threatened an equalizer early in the second half after forcing a pair of saves from the Mexican goalkeeper and hitting the crossbar.
But substitute Guillermo Martinez ended the visitors’ hopes in the 54th minute, finishing off a counter-attack to double Mexico’s lead.
Coach Aguirre used the friendly to continue evaluating players before announcing Mexico’s final World Cup squad on June 1, with Europe-based players Edson Alvarez, Jorge Sanchez and Luis Chávez playing in the second half after recently arriving at training camp.
Praising the efforts of the players competing for places in the final squad, the coach said: «The fact that they have given their best is already worth it for me. It is not easy (to choose the team), it is the most complex part of my job… It is about trying to consider all possible scenarios with my coaching staff.»
Published on May 23, 2026
