Mexico ended their preparations for the 2026 World Cup by crushing Serbia in their final friendly by a 5-1 score. Mexico completely dominated the match and bounced back after Serbia got an early lead, to make it 3 out of 3 in their last friendly tour. Mexico will now face off a week for now against South Africa in the 2026 World Cup opening match.
The 1st half started with Mexico coming out with Raul Jimenez up top for the first time in the last friendly tour prior to the World Cup. A low right footed shot inside the area from Brian Gutierrez forced a save from Serbia’s goalkeeper, Filip Stankovic. A cross into the area was headed from close range by Julian Quiñones forced and incredible save from Stankovic. A great back heeled pass from Jimenez allowed Gutierrez to get into the area but his right footed shot went wide in a bad miss. After a bad mistake from Jesus Gallardo gifted the ball to Petar Stanic, he was allowed to get into the area and get off a right footed shot past Mexico’s goalkeeper, Raul Rangel to score and give Serbia the 1-0 lead against the run of play. Mexico had completely dominated the match but a bad mistake allowed Serbia the shock lead. After getting the ball in the area, Jimenez got off a right footed shot that was well saved by Stankovic. A great combination play between Alvaro Fidalgo and Gutierrez ended with the ball left there for a close range volley shot from Quiñones but it went wide in a bad miss. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area found Cesar Montes but his header went wide. A cross into the area from Gallardo would find Jimenez but he whiffed on the left footed shot. The ball would then fall to Gutierrez but his left footed shot was blocked wide. In the ensuing corner kick, the short pass would find Gutierrez, who got a good cross into the area where Johan Vasquez would get a close range header that went past Stankovic and into the net to score and tie the match at 1-1. It was another set piece and another headed goal from Vasquez, who had doubled the amount of goals he scored for the NT in a week. A great cross into the area from Gallardo would be missed by Jimenez. A shot from outside the area by Quiñones looked like it forced a save from Stankovic although the referee ruled it had gone wide without a touch by the goalkeeper. A cross into the area was wonderfully volleyed by Jimenez but right to Stankovic. A back pass by Stefan Bukinac was terribly misjudged by Stankovic and the ball would go in for an own goal to give Mexico the 2-1 lead. The own goal was given to Bukinac but the mistake had been totally on Stankovic. The halftime whistle blew and although Mexico only had a one goal lead, they had completely dominated and deserved a bigger lead.
The 2nd half started with Mexico subbing out Erik Lira for Edson Alvarez. Serbia subbed out Petar Stanic, Nikola Tulic and Lazar Randelovic for Dejan Zukic, Mihailo Ivanovic and Veljko Birmancevic. Jimenez would get the ball in the area and get off a left fo
The 1st half started with Mexico coming out with Raul Jimenez up top for the first time in the last friendly tour prior to the World Cup. A low right footed shot inside the area from Brian Gutierrez forced a save from Serbia’s goalkeeper, Filip Stankovic. A cross into the area was headed from close range by Julian Quiñones forced and incredible save from Stankovic. A great back heeled pass from Jimenez allowed Gutierrez to get into the area but his right footed shot went wide in a bad miss. After a bad mistake from Jesus Gallardo gifted the ball to Petar Stanic, he was allowed to get into the area and get off a right footed shot past Mexico’s goalkeeper, Raul Rangel to score and give Serbia the 1-0 lead against the run of play. Mexico had completely dominated the match but a bad mistake allowed Serbia the shock lead. After getting the ball in the area, Jimenez got off a right footed shot that was well saved by Stankovic. A great combination play between Alvaro Fidalgo and Gutierrez ended with the ball left there for a close range volley shot from Quiñones but it went wide in a bad miss. Off a corner kick, the cross into the area found Cesar Montes but his header went wide. A cross into the area from Gallardo would find Jimenez but he whiffed on the left footed shot. The ball would then fall to Gutierrez but his left footed shot was blocked wide. In the ensuing corner kick, the short pass would find Gutierrez, who got a good cross into the area where Johan Vasquez would get a close range header that went past Stankovic and into the net to score and tie the match at 1-1. It was another set piece and another headed goal from Vasquez, who had doubled the amount of goals he scored for the NT in a week. A great cross into the area from Gallardo would be missed by Jimenez. A shot from outside the area by Quiñones looked like it forced a save from Stankovic although the referee ruled it had gone wide without a touch by the goalkeeper. A cross into the area was wonderfully volleyed by Jimenez but right to Stankovic. A back pass by Stefan Bukinac was terribly misjudged by Stankovic and the ball would go in for an own goal to give Mexico the 2-1 lead. The own goal was given to Bukinac but the mistake had been totally on Stankovic. The halftime whistle blew and although Mexico only had a one goal lead, they had completely dominated and deserved a bigger lead.
The 2nd half started with Mexico subbing out Erik Lira for Edson Alvarez. Serbia subbed out Petar Stanic, Nikola Tulic and Lazar Randelovic for Dejan Zukic, Mihailo Ivanovic and Veljko Birmancevic. Jimenez would get the ball in the area and get off a left fo
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