MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico coach Javier Aguirre opted Sunday for a new generation of players to use home ground advantage at the World Cup in a bid to seek redemption after one of the worst failures for El Tri in modern times at Qatar 2022.
“El Vasco” Aguirre, guiding the Mexican team into a World Cup for the third time, overhauled a squad that floundered in Qatar and failed to advance from the first round for the first time since 1978.
He picked 13 players who weren't part of the squad four years ago. The most intriguing of them all is 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora, who could become the youngest Mexican man to appear in a World Cup.
Mexico’s youngest World Cup player is Manuel “Chaquetas” Rosas, who was 18 years, 88 days when he played in the inaugural 1930 World Cup.
Brazil great Pele is among the seven players who have contested a World Cup at age 17 — the youngest of them all was Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside in 1982 in Spain.
Depending on when Mora makes his World Cup debut — Mexico opens against South Africa on June 11 — he would become the sixth or seventh on the international all-time list for youngest players at the tournament.
Among the veterans returning after the disappointment of Qatar 2022 is goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has been picked in a World Cup squad for the sixth time.
Although Ochoa, who made his World Cup debut in 2006, has only played in three World Cups and is currently considered the backup to starter Raúl Rangel.
After taking on South Africa at the Azteca stadium, Mexico will face South Korea in Guadalajara and close out the first round against Czechia on June 24.
Mexico, on a seven-match unbeaten streak, has one more World Cup warmup match against Serbia.
México:
Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel, Guillermo Ochoa, Carlos Acevedo.
Defenders: Jesús Gallardo, Johan Vázquez, Israel Reyes, César Montes, Jorge Sánchez, Mateo Chávez.
Midfielders: Edson Álvarez, Erik Lira, Alvaro Fidalgo, Gilberto Mora, Brian Gutierrez, Luis Romo, Orbelín Pineda, Alexis Vega, Obed Vargas, Luis Chávez.
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Giménez, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones, Armando González, Guillermo Martínez, Cesar Huerta.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
Mexico’s goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa gestures during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Australia Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Mexico’s head coach Javier Aguirre gives instructions to his players during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Australia Saturday, May 30, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian woman charged with joining the Islamic State group expressed views supporting terrorist acts and killing of non-believers, attempted to indoctrinate her children and recruited others to join her in Syria, according to allegations made in court Monday.
A defense lawyer for Rayann El Houli said expert evidence would be produced in court that her views had changed.
“She renounces ISIS and violent jihad,” Peter Morrissey said, using an acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. “She wants nothing to do with it: not now directly or indirectly. Not in the future. Not for herself. Not for the people she loves and specifically not for the children."
El Houli, 34, applied for release on bail in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on charges that she joined a terrorist organization and entered and remained in Raqqa, Syria, more than a decade ago when it was the stronghold of the IS so-called caliphate.
Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan outlined allegations within the prosecution’s summary of evidence that she wanted Morrissey to address in the bail hearing.
El Houli allegedly traveled to Syria between 2013 and 2014 with the intention of joining IS fighters.
“The accused expressed radicalized views while in Syria, including support for terrorist acts. She supported acts of martyrdom whilst in Syria. She repeatedly expressed views that supported the killing or serious injury of non-believers,” Hannan said.
She tried to indoctrinate her children and invited people living in Australia go to Syria for the “purposes of following a life and making decisions based on IS or other extremist ideology,” Hannan said.
El Houli left Raqqa in 2019 “when the caliphate was defeated and not as a result of her changing views,” the magistrate said.
The bail application was adjourned to a date that will be set later.
Each charge against El Houli carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. People charged with terrorism offenses can only be released on bail in exceptional circumstances.
Hannan said she wanted to hear details of how El Houli escaped from the al-Hol camp for displaced people in eastern Syria and was smuggled into Lebanon.
She returned to Australia from Lebanon last year and was arrested in Melbourne last week.
Three other women also linked to IS who have returned to Australia recently were charged with slavery and terrorism offenses on arrival and remain in custody, and others remain under police investigation.
A court sketch shows Rayann El Houli in Melbourne Magistrates Court in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (Anita Lester/AAP Image via AP)
Barrister Peter Morrissey SC leaves the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, June 1, 2026, where, according to allegations made in court, an Australia woman charged with joining the Islam State group. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)
