⚽
Andres Guardado has issued a battle cry that reverberates from the streets of Guadalajara to the farthest corners of the footballing world — Mexico are coming for their greatest World Cup performance ever! The legendary midfielder, who graced five tournaments from Germany 2006 through Qatar 2022 across 13 matches, now watches from the commentary booth as a television pundit for Telemundo — but his passion for La Tri burns as fiercely as ever. In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Guardado reflected on Mexico's flawless start to the 2026 finals and the intoxicating atmosphere sweeping across the co-host nation. "Everything has gone to plan," he declared. "The first objective was to get through, and we've done that. There's a real sense of excitement because it means we'll get to play at home in the round of 32, and hopefully the last 16 as well. We want to produce our best-ever World Cup performance." The atmosphere at Mexico City Stadium has been nothing short of otherworldly. "It's incredible! I've said it before, but you feel it the moment you arrive. The streets across Mexico have been absolutely electric. It helps that the team have been winning, which takes it up another notch. It's not just about Mexico, though. The scenes were just as fervent after Colombia's victory, when their supporters flooded Plaza El Angel. That's the thing — we experience the World Cup differently in Mexico. We live and breathe football." Guardado also heaped praise on goalkeeper Raul Rangel, who has shouldered the enormous pressure of replacing the legendary Memo Ochoa with remarkable composure. "Against Korea Republic, he made a brilliant save to preserve the win in the final minutes. That's going to give him a lot of confidence as the tournament goes on." On Julian Quiñones' influence, Guardado highlighted the forward's unique ability to unlock defences. The veteran also shared his thoughts on the tournament favourites and the unprecedented fervour gripping the nation. For Mexico, this World Cup represents more than just football — it's a chance to finally shatter the glass ceiling that has confined them for decades. With a perfect record so far and the passionate support of an entire continent behind them, Guardado's bold vision might just become reality.
