Mexico’s men go through the gears as Group A tightens at the top
|Image: Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez
Scroll through the record books of the Homeless World Cup and you’ll see the name Mexico repeated again and again. Four time winners of the men’s tournament. Champions eight times out of the last nine in the women’s competition, including last time around in California.
But for the men in 2023, it was silver in the Sacramento sunshine, edged out by South American neighbours Chile in the final.
Image: Anita Milas
In Thursday’s opening match, they set about putting things right.
Unbeaten England stood in their way, the Three Lions leading an incredibly competitive Group A which saw these two teams, plus South Africa, Bulgaria and Egypt all with a shout of making the top tournament come the end of this stage.
Make no mistake about it, England’s players put up a spirited effort, but Mexico’s patient play, probing and passing, pressing and pushing forward to score at all the right times saw the South Americans take the win.
It wasn’t all one way traffic. Despite being three up at half time and winning 7-1, Mexico’s keeper made a series of stunning saves to keep out England’s Gago Banak and Cobey Stickland, one second half stop unconventionally made with his heel.
Whatever works.
Watch out for Mexico as they aim to get their hands back on the men’s Homeless World Cup.
Words: Daniel Tyte
Images: Anita Milas