A warm-up friendly match that simulated World Cup conditions, including a cooling break for the players, held at the Rose Bowl Stadium.
Published May 31, 2026
World Cup co-hosts Mexico boosted their confidence with a 1-0 friendly win over Australia in front of a huge US crowd. As a result, coaches from both teams were forced to make difficult choices before naming their squads for the tournament.
A much-changed Mexico took the lead after a 28th-minute header from a set piece by Johan Vázquez on Saturday, and they managed to hold onto that lead despite a better second half for the Socceroos after a shaky start at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
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Mexico coach Javier Aguirre made nine changes to the starting eleven that beat Ghana 2-0 in a friendly in Puebla, Mexico, last week.
The 48 participating nations have until Monday to submit their 26 World Cup squads to FIFA for the tournament to begin on June 11 and be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
There was a lot to like about the fringe line-up’s performance, apart from a groaning mistake in defense that should have given them an equalizing goal in stoppage time before the main interval.
A long ball forward threw Mexico into chaos, goalkeeper Raul Rangel charged from his line, and midfielder Luis Chávez headed directly to Mohamed Toure on the edge of the area.
But the Socceroos striker curled a volley wide of the target, scoring at will in an empty goal, drawing a collective gasp from the pro-Mexican crowd of 78,479.
It was Australia’s only real chance in the first half when they were almost surrounded.
Chavez fired a long-range shot in the 10th minute, and 15 minutes later goalkeeper Matt Ryan was forced to make a fine save to tip Alexis Vega’s header over the bar from close range.
The pressure finally got through when Vega swung in a corner and Vazquez leapt over Aiden O’Neill to head a shot into the left post.
Simulating World Cup conditions, the friendly included a half-half drinks break, but its timing (first break at 32 minutes, second at 79 minutes) seemed confusingly haphazard. In addition, compared to six in regular World Cup matches, 11 substitutes were allowed in friendly matches, and they made full use of the available substitutes.
Coach Aguirre delighted the Mexican fans in the second half by replacing Rangel with 40-year-old stopper Guillermo Ochoa, and in the 60th minute he made five changes, including the introduction of up-and-coming 17-year-old attacker Gilberto Mora.
Popovic also made four changes eight minutes later and was rewarded almost immediately after substitute Kai Trewyn’s through ball found Ajdin Hrstić inside the area, only for the midfielder to curl a shot straight at Ochoa.
In the 76th minute, Mexico kicked a free kick too fast for the referee and the goal was ruled out, leading to a heated exchange between the teams before the kick was retaken.
Mexico will open the World Cup against South Africa in Mexico City, then face South Korea and the Czech Republic.
Australia will begin their match against Turkiye on June 13th, and will also play against the United States and Paraguay.
