Mexico vs Ghana
Mexico face Ghana on March 24 in a 2026 World Cup qualifier, riding a three-match winning streak after beating Costa Rica 2-1. Ghana are walking in wounded — one win in five, key players hurt, and a 3-0 thumping by Uruguay still in the rearview.
Form going in
Mexico look genuinely good for the first time in eighteen months. Julián Quintero and Uriel Antuna are scoring, the defense is organised, and the bench has actual depth. The three-match streak isn't padding — it's Costa Rica and the United States in there.
Ghana are a mess on paper. Ayew and Partey are both out. The midfield has been giving up the ball cheaply and the back four hasn't been the same since the Africa Cup of Nations run ended. The Williams brothers are still elite up top, which is the one reason this match isn't a write-off.
- Mexico's defense has been sharp. Ghana's midfield, less so — Owusu and Lomotey have struggled to create.
- Ghana's forward line is where the danger lives. Iñaki Williams and Kamal Deen Sowah will get chances.
Antuna is the player to watch on the Mexico side. Quick, direct, scored the winner against Costa Rica, and runs at defenders the way attackers used to before everyone became a possession robot. If you play five-a-side and need cleats with actual support for the change-of-direction stuff, a wide-fit Mercurial or Adidas Predator is what you want.
Head-to-head and the matchups that decide it
The countries have only met a handful of times. Mexico won the first in 1993, 2-1, on a Luis Hernández goal. They drew 1-1 in 2018. Neither result tells you much — these are different squads, different eras.
The matchup that actually decides this: Edson Álvarez and Luis Rodríguez at the back versus the Williams brothers up front. Álvarez is the kind of holding midfielder/centre-back hybrid who eats counter-attacks for breakfast. If he wins his physical duels, Ghana's chances dry up. If Iñaki Williams gets him on the spin even twice, this is 1-1.
Want to watch? FIFA+ and the local rights-holder typically split CONCACAF and CAF qualifiers — check your provider. A Mexico national team jersey or Ghana jersey if you're hosting friends for the match. Scarves from AliExpress are cheap if you're going to a watch party.
The X-factor: Mexico's midfield
This is where Mexico has been wobbly. Pineda and Gutiérrez have been off their game. The fix may be Héctor Herrera back from injury and Sebastián Córdova getting more minutes. Córdova is the most interesting player in the squad nobody outside Liga MX talks about — he plays at a different speed than most CONCACAF midfielders and his vertical passes break lines.
Pair him with Herrera and Mexico controls the midpoint of the pitch. Don't, and Ghana's Williams gets isolated in space against an exposed back four. The lineup choice is the whole match.
The pick
Mexico 2-1. Antuna scores, Williams pulls one back, the bench closes it out. If Cordova doesn't start, scratch that and call it 1-1.
Ready to shop? Compare Trending Now across stores →
