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Mexico are ranked 17th in the FIFA World Rankings, but could climb several spots with a strong performance in Russia. The Confederations Cup is a real test one year before the World Cup, and we will have a much better sense of where Mexico fits in the world soccer puzzle after these two weeks.
Mexico reached the tournament by winning CONCACAF Cup in 2015, and they were placed in Group A. The tournament consists of eight teams separated into two groups, with the top two qualifiers in each group advancing.
After Portugal, here is the rest of Mexico’s schedule:
Wednesday June 21: vs. New Zealand at Fisht Olympic Stadium (2 p.m. Eastern)
Saturday June 24: vs. Russia at Otkrytiye Arena (11 a.m. Eastern)
With European champions Portugal and host country Russia, advancing will be a tough task for El Tri. But should Mexico advance, the competition will get even stiffer. Chile and Germany will likely advance from Group B, setting up a potential rematch from Mexico’s 7-0 defat to La Roja last summer.
Mexico are stronger and more experienced than that last meeting, but reaching the final will not be easy. Even if Mexico fall short, reaching the semifinal would be a huge accomplishment for Juan Carlos Osorio and the squad. Mexico are a virtual lock to qualify for the World Cup next year, and will have a puncher’s chance against the best nations in the world.
The Confederations Cup semifinals will be held June 28 and June 29, and the final will be June 2.