There is a constant battle between club and country over the top players ahead of the World Cup, but things have escalated to a new level in Mexico. As the country prepares to host the World Cup, the national team is threatening to cut ties with some of their best players.
The issue is that Mexico is requiring all players to report for a training window by May 6. There has been tension with Liga MX given the league is in the midst of the playoffs.
“The Mexico Football Federation (FMF) has warned Liga MX players that they will be left off the final World Cup squad if they do not report to a pre-planned World Cup camp on May 6, despite it taking place outside of a designated FIFA international window and during some of the most important matches on the club calendar,” The Athletic detailed in a May 6, 2026, message on X.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest World Cup news.
Mexico’s Top Players in Danger of Being Cut Before the World Cup
Mexico’s National Team is a little more than one month away from kicking off the World Cup by hosting South Africa on June 11. There are 20 Liga MX players who have been called upon to attend the training session ahead of the World Cup.
“As you all were able to deduce, our press release was clear: if a player does not report to camp, he’ll be out of the World Cup,” Mexico’s manager Javier Aguirre told reporters, per The Athletic’s Felipe Cardenas. “We cannot be flexible in that regard. I want to thank the clubs and the owners who supported this plan, one we presented a long time ago, and that was approved. This is a pact.
“A project that has not been broken. I want to thank Toluca and Chivas, notably Chivas that is impacted by the number of players (called up). And Toluca a club that is competing in an international tournament,” Aguirre added.
“They’re helping us. They’re helping the national team. The pact has not been broken. The (Liga MX) playoffs will be played without national team players.”
There is Tension Between Mexico, Liga MX Over Priority Between World Cup & League Playoffs
Mexico sits at No. 15 in the FIFA rankings ahead of the World Cup. El Tri is viewed as a long shot to contend in the World Cup.
Mexico is down the list in the soccer odds to win the World Cup at +7500, per DraftKings. It is a complicated request with Liga MX in the critical part of the postseason.
“Twelve of those players were guaranteed a World Cup squad place, according to an FMF spokesperson at the time,” Cardenas wrote in a May 6, story titled, “Mexico threatens to kick players off World Cup team in latest spat with Liga MX clubs.”
“That would mean that players from Toluca and Chivas de Guadalajara called in by manager Javier Aguirre would miss everything from the second leg of the quarterfinals and on in the Liga MX playoffs in addition to the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinal second leg and final.”
Mexico Warns of Abruptly Cutting Ties With Stars Weeks Before World Cup