Mexico Faces River Plate in Crucial World Cup Prep Friendly

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Mexico‘s national soccer team concludes its South American tour with a high-stakes friendly against Argentine powerhouse River Plate on Tuesday at Estadio Monumental. The match serves as a critical preparation step for the 2026 World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the U.S. and Canada.

Coming off a 2-0 victory over Brazilian club Internacional last week, Mexico aims to build momentum under head coach Javier Aguirre. With the game falling outside a FIFA international window, Aguirre has relied exclusively on Liga MX players, offering a chance to expand the national team’s player pool.

“This is a unique opportunity to test our depth and see how players perform against top-tier competition,” Aguirre said. “River Plate is a formidable opponent, and this match will help us identify who can step up when it matters most.”

River Plate, led by manager Marcelo Gallardo, is also using the match as a preseason tune-up ahead of their 2025 league campaign. The Argentine club, which boasts World Cup champions like Manuel Lanzini and Gonzalo Montiel, is preparing for a run at the Copa Libertadores title.

This marks only the second meeting between Mexico and River Plate. The teams last faced off in 1950 during a preseason tour, with Mexico securing a 2-0 victory in Mexico City. Tuesday’s match offers a chance for River Plate to even the score.

Mexico’s unconventional schedule of friendlies against club teams stems from the unique challenges of co-hosting the 2026 World Cup. With no qualifying matches to play, the team has sought competitive fixtures against top clubs to maintain sharpness.

Fans in the U.S. can catch the action on TUDN and Univision, while Mexican viewers can tune in via Azteca 7, Canal 5, and TUDN. Streaming options include the TUDN app and ViX Premium.