Mexico Dominates Serbia in Final World Cup Warm-Up

TOLUCA, MEXICO - JUNE 04: Luis Chávez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal during the international friendly match between Mexico and Serbia at Nemesio Diez Stadium on June 04, 2026 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)

Mexico concluded its World Cup preparations with an impressive 5-1 victory over Serbia in a friendly match. Despite Serbia taking an early lead, Mexico quickly turned the tide, showcasing their dominance throughout the game. This marked Mexico's third consecutive win in their final friendly series before heading to the tournament, where they will face South Africa in the opening match next week.

The first half began with Raul Jimenez taking the field as the striker for the first time in this friendly series. Early on, Brian Gutierrez's low shot was saved by Serbian goalkeeper Filip Stankovic. However, a costly mistake from Jesus Gallardo allowed Petar Stanic to score for Serbia, giving them an unexpected 1-0 lead. Mexico's relentless pressure soon paid off when Johan Vasquez equalized with a close-range header from a corner kick, marking his second goal for the national team in just a week.

As the first half progressed, Mexico continued to dominate despite only holding a narrow lead. A mix-up by Stankovic led to an own goal, gifting Mexico a 2-1 advantage before halftime. The second half saw Mexico make several substitutions, including bringing in Edson Alvarez for Erik Lira. Mexico maintained their aggressive approach, and after hitting the post, Raul Jimenez capitalized on the rebound to extend the lead to 3-1.

Further misfortune struck Serbia when an attempt to clear a corner resulted in another own goal, increasing Mexico's lead to 4-1. The match concluded with a stunning long-range shot from Luis Chavez, sealing the score at 5-1. Despite Serbia fielding a less experienced squad, Mexico's commanding performance was a strong indicator of their readiness as they head into the World Cup. Coach Javier Aguirre cautioned, however, that such a decisive win could lead to overconfidence, emphasizing the importance of continued improvement in their offense before the tournament begins.