Mexico’s national football team, under the leadership of returning coach Javier Aguirre, secured a convincing 3-0 victory over New Zealand in a friendly match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on September 7, 2024. The game marked Aguirre’s debut in his third stint as Mexico’s coach, coming after a 14-year absence from the national team.Orbelín Pineda opened the scoring early, finding the net in the 4th minute. César Huerta added to the lead in the 49th minute, followed by Luis Romo sealing the win with a goal in the 52nd minute. The Mexican team dominated the game, with New Zealand struggling to pose any significant challenge.Despite the strong performance on the field, concerns were raised about the low attendance at the Rose Bowl. The stadium, with a capacity of 89,702, was reportedly half-empty, with only 25,271 spectators present. This low turnout has been attributed to Mexico’s recent disappointing performances in tournaments such as the Nations League and Copa América.Aguirre, accompanied by assistant coach Rafael Márquez, has implemented new rules for the team, including ‘no cell phones and punctuality’. The coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, ‘It was a great day,’ and, ‘I am proud to be back with the team’.The Mexican team will face their next challenge on September 10, 2024, when they play against Canada at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This match will be crucial as Mexico continues its preparation for the 2026 World Cup, for which they are automatically qualified as co-hosts.
Key points
- Mexico defeated New Zealand 3-0 in Javier Aguirre’s debut as returning coach.
- The match saw low attendance despite being played at the Rose Bowl.
- Mexico’s next match is against Canada on September 10 in Arlington, Texas.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported goal times across sources, with some variation in the minutes when goals were scored.
