Javier Aguirre resigns as Mexico manager after World Cup defeat
Mexico’s manager, Javier Aguirre, has stepped down just hours after losing to England 3-2 at the World Cup, reports BritPanorama.
Aguirre confirmed his departure following a disappointing defeat at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, marking Mexico’s first-ever World Cup loss at this venue. Jude Bellingham scored twice, and Harry Kane added a penalty, leading to the co-hosts crashing out of the tournament.
The 67-year-old’s resignation comes after his third stint as national coach. He previously guided El Tri to the last 16 in both the 2002 and 2010 World Cups and returned in 2024 with aspirations of success in the 2026 edition.
Mexico had a strong group stage, winning all three matches without conceding a goal, which raised hopes among home supporters. This was followed by a comfortable 2-0 victory against Ecuador in the round of 32, setting up the tense knockout match against England.
Speaking after the game, Aguirre expressed regret over the loss, stating, “I would have liked to say goodbye to my people with a victory. That hurts, we tried. The players need to leave with their heads held high. Today it could not be. We failed to capitalise, but I want to thank them all. I leave with a lot of pride. These players made me very happy. We recovered the sense of belonging and the identity of this team.”
Aguirre also endorsed Rafa Marquez as a potential successor, saying, “I wish him the best. He is more than capable, and he will do better than me.”
Following this match, England will face Norway in the quarter-finals after the latter secured a 2-1 victory against Brazil. England winger Anthony Gordon praised his team’s performance, commenting on the significance of the moment: “To celebrate like we just did was once in a lifetime.”
This chapter of Aguirre’s career concludes a significant yet tumultuous period for Mexican football, emphasising the unpredictability of the World Cup and the narrow margins that define success in such high-stakes tournaments.
