Mexico’s National Team Faces Inter de Porto Alegre in 2025 Opener

SALTA, Argentina — Mexico‘s national soccer team will kick off its 2025 campaign with a high-profile friendly match against Brazil‘s Inter de Porto Alegre on Thursday, January 16. The game, set for 7 p.m. ET, marks the team’s first international outing of the year and a rare opportunity to test its mettle against a top South American club.

Head coach Javier Aguirre has assembled a squad composed entirely of Liga MX players for the match, as the absence of a FIFA international window prevents him from calling up European-based stars. This decision reflects Aguirre’s focus on evaluating younger talent ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada.

“I requested to play outside of Mexico, in places like Brazil, Costa Rica, or even Italy,” Aguirre told TUDN. “In familiar settings, players feel protected. But in these challenging environments, we can see who raises their hand to be part of the World Cup squad. Emotional balance is crucial.”

The match against Inter de Porto Alegre is part of a broader strategy to prepare Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. The team’s calendar also includes the Concacaf Final Four in March and the Gold Cup in the summer. However, scheduling high-quality opponents has proven difficult due to other national teams’ commitments to World Cup qualifiers.

Mexico last toured South America for club friendlies in 1998, ahead of the France World Cup. That year, under coach Manuel Lapuente, the team faced Argentina’s Boca Juniors at La Bombonera. The upcoming match against Inter de Porto Alegre offers a similar test of character for Aguirre’s squad.

According to TUDN, Mexico’s probable starting lineup includes several rising stars from Liga MX. The team will face additional challenges later in the year, including a friendly against Argentina’s River Plate. These matches are designed to expose younger players to high-pressure environments and assess their readiness for international competition.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, Aguirre’s decisions in these friendlies could shape Mexico’s roster for the tournament. The match against Inter de Porto Alegre is not just a test of skill but also a chance for players to prove their mental fortitude in unfamiliar territory.