Mexico's Projected Lineup for World Cup Opener Against South Africa

MEXICO CITY — Javier Aguirre is confidently preparing for the opening match of the World Cup, which sees Mexico take on South Africa. Although the coach has finalized his starting eleven, he remained tight-lipped about the specifics during a press conference held the day prior to the game. When pressed for details, Aguirre confirmed he has a lineup ready but opted not to reveal any information to the media or the opposing team, which Mexico faced in the 2010 World Cup opener.

As of now, Aguirre's players have yet to be informed about the starting lineup. "I haven’t spoken with them about the starting XI," he mentioned. "The 26 players are very hopeful; they all know they could play at any time, and I have no doubt they’ll do well." Nevertheless, speculation about the lineup is rampant, and here is a projection from USA TODAY Sports for how Mexico might set up for their match on Thursday.

In goal, Raul "Tala" Rangel is anticipated to start, despite veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa potentially seeing action later in the tournament. The defensive line appears stable with Jorge Sanchez, Cesar Montes, Johan Vasquez, and Jesus Gallardo, particularly with the center-back duo showing strong defensive capabilities and scoring prowess during preparation matches.

In the midfield, the competition intensifies with Brian Gutierrez, Edson Alvarez, and Alvaro Fidalgo likely securing starting positions. Teenager Gilberto Mora is a contender, but Gutierrez’s impressive performance against Serbia last week may give him the edge. While Alvarez has been a mainstay in the midfield, Erik Lira's strong play could create a tough choice for Aguirre. Given the physicality expected from South Africa, Alvarez may be favored for his robust presence.

Up front, Raul Jimenez is a solid choice for the striker role, while the positions alongside him are still in flux. Julian Quiñones, who has excelled in a central role in Saudi Arabia, offers versatility on the left and may outpace competitors like Alexis Vega and Cesar Huerta. Roberto Alvarado is also expected to contribute not only in attack but defensively as well.

Projected Mexico XI against South Africa: Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Gutierrez, Alvarez, Fidalgo; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quiñones.