Mexico is set to play its final warm‑up match for the 2026 World Cup against Serbia on Thursday, a friendly that will serve as the last chance for the Mexican side to fine‑tune before the tournament kicks off.
El Tri enter the game unbeaten in seven straight fixtures and are eager to extend that run, with coach Javier Aguirre having named an experienced lineup that reflects Mexico’s ambition as co‑hosts of the global event.
Serbia’s rebuilding phase
Serbia, by contrast, comes into the fixture after a disappointing qualifying campaign that saw them miss out on direct qualification for the European slot, leaving coach Veljko Paunovic to experiment with a largely inexperienced squad that includes several potential debutants.
The two nations have met only once before, in 2011, when Mexico secured a 2‑0 victory, a result that still fuels the narrative of a modest edge for the North American side.
Both teams are using the match to achieve distinct objectives: Mexico hopes to carry momentum into its opening clash with South Africa, while Serbia aims to build confidence for the next phase of its development.