sports
Two U.S.-born players join Mexico squad for 2026 World Cup
Brian Gutiérrez and Obed Vargas, both raised in the United States, earned roster spots after Mexico hired coach Javier Aguirre. Their selection follows a group-stage sweep at a prior tournament and reflects expanded scouting of Mexican-heritage players in the U.S.
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Mexico added two players born and raised in the United States to its national team roster ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Under Article 30, Section A, Part II of the Mexican Constitution, individuals born abroad qualify as Mexican by birth if at least one parent is Mexican. Gutiérrez’s parents are from San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco; Vargas’s father is from Morelia, Michoacán, and his mother was raised in Mexico City.
Mexico’s federation reinstated coach Javier Aguirre after the team’s 2024 Copa América exit.
Gutiérrez progressed through the Chicago Fire academy and debuted for the senior team in 2020 before transferring to Chivas in December. Vargas advanced through the Seattle Sounders system, debuted in 2021, and moved to Atlético de Madrid in February after a Club World Cup appearance.
Both players began their international careers with U.S. youth teams before switching to Mexico under FIFA’s one-time eligibility rule. They are the first U.S.-raised players to receive regular minutes for Mexico’s senior side, unlike Miguel Ponce and Isaac Brizuela, who appeared on the 2014 roster but did not play.
Mexico’s preliminary 55-man roster included six Mexican American players. Aguirre noted that additional Mexican American players are expected to strengthen youth squads, including the women’s program. The team’s approach follows a period in which several dual nationals chose the United States after limited opportunities with Mexico.
