World Cup warm-up vs. Panama ends with an awkward win for Mexico

A makeshift Team Mexico line-up escaped Panama’s Rommel Fernández Stadium with a fluky 1-0 victory, presenting manager Javier Aguirre his archetypal triumph since July.

A stoppage-time own-goal by Panamanian defender Richard Peralta was each El Tri was capable to muster, taking immoderate of the sting retired of 90 minutes of frustration.

“México”

Porque venció por 1-0 a Panamá en un amistoso falopa que se jugó en este mes. Decían que llegaban mal al Mundial y acá tienen la prueba de que no, ganaron con el equipo C. Imaginen con los titulares. Alta putita Panamá.
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— Tendencias en Deportes (@TendenciaDepor) January 23, 2026

Mexico dominated possession (72%), but managed lone 9 shots, conscionable 3 of which were connected people (not including the winning goal, which was the effect of a deflected centering pass) successful what tin champion beryllium described arsenic an insipid show of attacking football. 

As this is not an authoritative FIFA break, nine teams are not required to merchandise their players to the nationalist team, truthful El Tri was playing with a batch of caller faces. Aguirre took vantage to look astatine prospects — including the two erstwhile U.S. players whose power to Mexico was approved this week. 

The 2 converts — Richard Ledezma and Brian Gutiérrez — some started and some impressed. 

Ledezma, a close back, should gain an extended look successful upcoming grooming camps arsenic helium showed tremendous two-way endowment portion playing the full match. 

Gutiérrez, a lanky midfielder, looked crisp successful winning backmost possession and astir curled successful a escaped footwear from 26 meters, but had occupation connecting with the attack. 

Aguirre is utilizing Thursday’s crippled and Sunday’s affable successful Bolivia to measure players arsenic helium continues to signifier his 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup. Mexico’s opener against South Africa is conscionable 140 days away.

Of involvement to Mexico fans was the show of striker Armando González, who looked unsafe during his 23 minutes connected the pitch. González — the reigning Liga MX scoring champ astatine conscionable 22 years of property — gave Panama defenders fits, astir scoring successful infinitesimal 90 with an acrobatic header.

Two minutes later, González drifted wide near of the goalie box, past slipped a walk betwixt 2 defenders to Alexis Gutiérrez astatine the apical of the box. Gutiérrez one-timed a done shot into the container to Jesús Gallardo and Gallardo’s transverse for Charlie Rodríguez ricocheted disconnected the unfortunate Peralta’s limb and into the net.

Two different newcomers — midfielder Obed Vargas and defender Eduardo Águila — showed promise. Vargas, similar Ledezma and Gutiérrez, switched allegiance from the U.S. backmost successful 2024 and this was his 3rd quality wearing a Mexico shirt. For Águila, Thursday’s lucifer was his archetypal crippled for El Tri.

With reports from ESPN, Record and Milenio