Gilberto Mora is one of Mexico’s brightest hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mexico have the opportunity—and the pressure—to deliver a strong showing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the tournament’s three host nations. To do so, they will rely on the talent of their top players, including Gilberto Mora. The attacking midfielder is the youngest player ever to represent Mexico at a FIFA World Cup, at just 17 years old. Born on October 14, 2008, he has already showcased his talent and influence on the field in a short professional career, earning a spot in the 26-man squad selected by head coach Javier Aguirre. Mora made his professional debut for Club Tijuana in August 2024 against Santos Laguna before turning 16 years old. That achievement made him the third-youngest player to debut in Liga MX history, behind Victor Manon and Martin Galvan. He immediately made an impact, recording an assist in his first appearance. Standing just 5-foot-6 (1.68 m), Gilberto is known primarily for his close control with his right foot and outstanding technical ability. He also stands out for his vision and ability to orchestrate his team’s attacks, a rare trait for a player of his age. Gil Mora playing for Club Tijuana. Since his debut in 2024, Mora has made 53 official appearances for Club Tijuana across Liga MX and Leagues Cup competition. In those matches, he has recorded 10 goals and two assists. During the most recent season, 2025-26, the midfielder scored six goals and added one assist in 20 appearances. Gilberto Mora’s journey with the Mexico national team His performances at club level earned Gilberto Mora an early opportunity with the Mexico national team. He represented the country at every youth level from the U-15 team through the U-20 side, with whom he competed at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where they were eliminated by Argentina in the quarterfinals. Mora made his senior national team debut on January 16, 2025, becoming the youngest player in Mexico history to achieve that feat. Since then, he has made nine appearances in official matches and friendlies, recording one assist. He was also part of the squad that won the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, starting all three knockout-stage matches. How much is Gilberto Mora worth? Gilberto Mora quickly demonstrated the talent and potential to become a future superstar, attracting interest from several European clubs. In that context, Club Tijuana took an important step regarding his future. On June 9, 2026, they signed Mora to a new three-year contract, while also granting him a significant salary increase and handing him the club’s No. 10 jersey. According to reports, the deal also included a €20 million release clause designed to facilitate a future move to Europe.
Gilberto Mora made history with Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Gilberto Mora made history on Thursday during the Group A opener between Mexico and South Africa. The midfielder came on as a substitute for Alvaro Fidalgo in the 65th minute and became the youngest player in Mexico history to appear in a FIFA World Cup match. At 17 years and 240 days old, Mora broke a record set by Manuel ‘Chaquetas’ Rosas in 1930 that had stood for 96 years. The defender, born in 1912, had been Mexico’s youngest-ever World Cup player after appearing against France at the age of 18 years and 134 days at Uruguay 1930. Other Mexican players near the top of that list include Alfredo Torres (19 years and 16 days at Switzerland 1954), Raul Arellano (19 years and 108 days at Switzerland 1954), Andres Guardado (19 years and 269 days at Germany 2006), and Hugo Sanchez (19 years and 326 days at Argentina 1978). Mora earned the trust of head coach Javier Aguirre after standing out over the last two seasons with Club Tijuana, where he has made 53 appearances while recording 10 goals and two assists. Despite his young age, those performances have not only brought him international recognition but have also attracted interest from several European giants. Teboho Mokoena #4 of South Africa is challenged by Gilberto Mora #19 of Mexico. Other records held by Gilberto Mora In just two years as a professional player, Gilberto Mora has become accustomed to breaking records. When he made his debut for Tijuana in 2024, he became the third-youngest player in Liga MX history, trailing only Victor Manon and Martin Galvan. At the international level, he has achieved remarkable milestones as well. When he made his senior Mexico debut in January 2025, Mora became the youngest player in the nation’s history to accomplish that feat, at just 16 years old. Javier Aguirre’s decision to include him in the squad for the 2026 World Cup has now allowed him to claim another Mexico record by surpassing Manuel ‘Chaquetas’ Rosas. In addition, Gil Mora is the youngest of the 1,248 players participating in this edition of the tournament. Mora falls short of Pele record If he scores a goal in any of Mexico’s upcoming matches, Gilberto Mora would move into second place on the list of the youngest goalscorers in FIFA World Cup history. The record, which remains untouchable, belongs to Brazil legend Pele. He led his national team to the title at Sweden 1958 and scored at the age of just 17 years and 239 days in a quarterfinal match against Wales during that tournament.
Mexico and Serbia will meet in an international friendly at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca on Thursday evening, with the hosts playing their final warm-up match before the 2026 World Cup begins. Mexico will want to protect their positive run before opening the tournament against South Africa on June 11, while Serbia arrive in Mexico […] The post Prediction: Mexico vs Serbia appeared first on SoccerNews.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami have reportedly taken the decision to leave Guillermo Hoyos as the head coach until the end of the 2026 MLS season. Lionel Messi has been one of the driving forces behind Inter Miami‘s recovery during a stretch of the season that included the departure of head coach Javier Mascherano. Now, ahead of the second half of the 2026 MLS campaign, the forward will receive a significant boost with Guillermo Hoyos reportedly confirmed as the club’s head coach through the end of the season. Mascherano stepped down from the Inter Miami head coaching role on April 14, citing personal reasons, following an inconsistent run of form in MLS and the club’s early elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The Inter Miami board responded by transitioning Guillermo Hoyos from his sporting director role into the head coaching position on an interim basis. According to Fabrizio Romano, Hoyos will now remain in the dugout for the remainder of the 2026 season, making his appointment permanent through the end of the campaign. He had initially been expected to serve only until the World Cup break, but the board has since decided to keep him at the helm. Recent speculation had placed Pep Guardiola, who announced his departure from Manchester City at the end of the 2025-26 season, as a potential candidate for the Inter Miami project backed by David Beckham. However, the Spanish coach chose to step away from club management entirely after a decade at the Mancunian side, taking himself out of contention. Guillermo Hoyos, Head Coach of Inter Miami, chats with Facundo Mura. With Hoyos confirmed through the end of the season, he is now set to oversee the remaining 19 games on Inter Miami’s 2026 MLS regular-season schedule, along with three Leagues Cup matches and the 2026 Campeones Cup against the Liga MX champion. That total of 23 games could grow further depending on how far the Herons advance in each competition. Messi and Inter Miami’s record under Hoyos During the first part of the 2026 season under Mascherano, Inter Miami fell well short of the standard they had set when claiming the MLS Cup at the end of 2025. From the moment Hoyos took over, however, the team hit a new gear, and none more so than Messi himself. Since Hoyos’ debut in charge against the Colorado Rapids on April 18, Inter Miami have posted six wins, one draw and one defeat, the best start to a managerial tenure in the club’s history. For context, among a list of predecessors that includes Diego Alonso, Phil Neville, Javier Morales, Gerardo “Tata” Martino, and Mascherano, it was Martino who previously held that record with four wins, one draw and two defeats across his first seven games. As for Messi, the Argentine captain has been in exceptional form since Hoyos took over, a reunion with a man who knew him from his early days at FC Barcelona. Across eight appearances under the new coach, Messi has contributed seven goals and seven assists, cementing his status as the leading candidate for the MLS Player of the Month award for May.
Toluca and Tigres UANL will face against each other in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup final. Here’s how fans in the United States can watch the showdown live. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Toluca vs Tigres UANL on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Toluca vs Tigres UANL WHAT CONCACAF Champions Cup WHEN 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT • Saturday, May 30, 2026 WHERE Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, FS1, UniMás, Hulu + Live TV and ViX STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Toluca and Tigres UANL have a chance to put their Clausura 2016 quarterfinal disappointments behind them when they meet with the CONCACAF Champions Cup title on the line. Toluca was eliminated by Pachuca. On the other hand, Tigres fell to Chivas, but both clubs can still end the season with a major international trophy. With two Liga MX giants battling for continental supremacy, expect an intense, high-level showdown that no soccer fan will want to miss. More details on how to watch With Fubo, you can watch Toluca vs Tigres UANL and tons more games. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with Fubo, you can stream USA Network, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, beIN SPORTS XTRA, NBC, CNBC, USA, FOX, FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, Telemundo, Universo and Galavision. Plus Fubo, the legal streaming service, also streams Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League (in Spanish), Europa League (in Spanish), Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, NWSL, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and more. The Fubo app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhones, Android phones, Amazon Fire TV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense TVs, iOS devices, LG TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio Smartcast TVs and Xbox One. If you’re planning to follow more games on this platform, you can check out the full Fubo soccer schedule to stay up to date with upcoming matches available via the service. How to watch anywhere with VPN If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer.
Despite having to deal with an eventual congestion in the striker position, coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino left open the possibility of Josef Martinez returning to Atlanta United. Josef Martinez was a central figure in one of the most celebrated chapters in Atlanta United‘s history, but in 2026, both the player and the club find themselves in very different circumstances. Despite an already crowded striker situation, head coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino has left the door open for a potential reunion. The reality at Atlanta United this season has been a difficult one. Currently sitting 14th in the Eastern Conference with just 11 points from 14 games, the team’s performance under Martino’s second stint in charge has been underwhelming, and significant activity in the summer transfer window is widely expected. Following Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to the Columbus Crew, Martino was asked by Bolavip about the prospect of Martinez returning to the club: “We haven’t sat down with the front office yet to know in which situation we find ourselves in. It’s a position where we already have Emmanuel Latte Lath as DP, we have other strikers in Cayman (Togashi) and Sergio Santos, and I also use Aleksei Miranchuk as striker.“ While acknowledging the depth already in place at the position, Martino stopped short of ruling out a return for the Venezuelan striker, citing both their history together and Martínez’s continued activity at the professional level. “I won’t rule it out because Josef is a natural-born goalscorer. He’s a player I know well and he’s active in an important league like the Mexican league,” Martino added. Gerardo Martino addresses possible Josef Martínez return to Atlanta United pic.twitter.com/pmCitC7iB8— Bolavip US (@bolavipus) May 25, 2026 Having departed San Jose Earthquakes on a free transfer last season, Martinez joined Club Tijuana in January, where he managed just 13 minutes across the final seven games of the Liga MX Clausura. According to The Athletic‘s Felipe Cárdenas, Martinez and Tijuana have since parted ways by mutual agreement, making him a free agent once again and a realistic option for clubs looking for proven MLS firepower, with a return to Atlanta not out of the question. Atlanta United and an underperforming attack As The Athletic recently reported, Atlanta United rank third among MLS clubs in total spending for 2026 at $27.9 million, trailing only Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at $54.6 million and Son Heung-min’s LAFC at $32.7 million. That investment, however, has not translated into results on the pitch, particularly in the attacking third. Atlanta currently sit as the lowest-scoring team in MLS with 14 goals, tied with Sporting Kansas City. Russian midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk leads the team with five goals, while three other players are level on two apiece. Of the forwards Martino specifically mentioned, Designated Player Emmanuel Latte Lath is among those stuck on two MLS goals. Brazilian striker Sergio Santos, in three appearances, and Japanese forward Cayman Togashi, in six, have yet to score in the league, with Togashi’s only goal coming in the U.S. Open Cup. Now 33 years old, Martínez is far from the form he showed during his peak years at Atlanta United, having managed just one goal in nine appearances with Tijuana. That said, with his place in the top ten of MLS’s all-time goalscoring list and a familiar face back in the dugout, the prospect of one final chapter in Atlanta remains a genuine possibility.
Pumas UNAM will square off with Cruz Azul in the second leg of the Liga MX Clausura 2026 final. Find out how to watch this showdown live in the USA. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul WHAT Liga MX WHEN 9:00pm ET / 6:00pm PT • Sunday, May 24, 2026 WHERE Fubo, DirecTV Stream, CBS Sports Network, Univision, TUDN, Hulu + Live TV, ViX STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Following a tense 0-0 draw in the first leg, the Liga MX title will now be decided in a high-stakes second showdown between fierce rivals Pumas UNAM and Cruz Azul. Pumas enter the decisive clash with the advantage of playing at home after an impressive regular season and playoff run. However, Cruz Azul already showed in the opener that they can thrive under pressure and are now just one win away from the championship. With the trophy still up for grabs, fans should expect an intense battle packed with drama from start to finish. More details on how to watch With Fubo, you can watch Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul and tons more Liga MX games with a free trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with Fubo, you can stream USA Network, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, beIN SPORTS XTRA, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, Telemundo, Universo and Galavision. Plus Fubo, the legal streaming service, also streams Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League (in Spanish), Europa League (in Spanish), Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, NWSL, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and more. The Fubo app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhones, Android phones, Amazon Fire TV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense TVs, iOS devices, LG TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio Smartcast TVs and Xbox One. If you’re planning to follow more games on this platform, you can check out the full Fubo soccer schedule to stay up to date with upcoming matches available via the service. SEE MORE: Schedule of Liga MX games on US TV and streaming How to watch anywhere with VPN If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer.
Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM will face each other in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura 2026 final at the E. Find out how to watch this showdown live in the USA. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Cruz Azul vs Pumas UNAM on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Cruz Azul vs Pumas UNAM WHAT Liga MX WHEN 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT • Thursday, May 21, 2026 WHERE Fubo, DirecTV Stream,CBS Sports Network, Univision, TUDN, Hulu + Live TV and ViX STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview After surviving a demanding playoff road, Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM are now set to battle for the 2026 Liga MX Clausura title. Los Cementeros reached the final after strong aggregate wins over Atlas and Chivas, while Pumas narrowly advanced past Club America and Pachuca thanks to their higher seeding in two tightly contested series. With the decisive clash set at Cruz Azul’s home stadium, the hosts will try to make the most of that advantage against a determined Pumas side eager to leave with the trophy. Don’t miss this high-stakes showdown between two historic Liga MX rivals. More details on how to watch With Fubo, you can watch Cruz Azul vs Pumas UNAM and tons more Liga MX games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with Fubo, you can stream USA Network, ESPN, ESPN2, CBS, CBS Sports Network, FS1, FS2, beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, beIN SPORTS XTRA, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, Telemundo, Universo and Galavision. Plus Fubo, the legal streaming service, also streams Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League (in Spanish), Europa League (in Spanish), Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, NWSL, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and more. The Fubo app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhones, Android phones, Amazon Fire TV, Android Mobile, Android TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Hisense TVs, iOS devices, LG TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, Vizio Smartcast TVs and Xbox One. If you’re planning to follow more games on this platform, you can check out the full Fubo soccer schedule to stay up to date with upcoming matches available via the service. SEE MORE: Schedule of Liga MX games on US TV and streaming How to watch anywhere with VPN If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as NordVPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming. If you are not sure which VPN to use, check out World Soccer Talk’s guide to the best VPNs for streaming soccer. More resources World Soccer Talk is the number one destination in the United States for soccer television and streaming information. We recommend that you bookmark our soccer games on TV today page as well as subscribing to our free daily email newsletter that includes TV schedules and the latest soccer news and opinion from around the world. Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming. To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices).
Lionel Messi's great form has led Inter Miami to take the top MLS spot in the CONCACAF rankings, though they're still trailing the overall Top 3. Lionel Messi has been the driving force behind an Inter Miami side that has spent the first portion of the 2026 season rediscovering the form that carried them to the MLS Cup title last year. The progress is now showing in the standings, with the Herons reclaiming their status as the top MLS club in the CONCACAF rankings, though they still find themselves outside the overall top three. Back in March, Inter Miami suffered a significant setback with their Round of 16 exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup at the hands of Nashville, and a string of poor results through early April sent them tumbling to seventh in the rankings. Since then, the club has undergone a reset, including the dismissal of Javier Mascherano and the appointment of Guillermo Hoyos, and the results on the pitch have followed. With CONCACAF releasing its latest club ranking update on May 18, Inter Miami have climbed from sixth to fourth overall, now sitting as the highest-ranked MLS side on the list. LAFC and the Seattle Sounders had been positioned above them, but both clubs have shed points in the most recent update following difficult stretches of form. After a strong start to the season, LAFC hit a wall in May, falling in the Champions Cup semifinals against Toluca and then collecting just one draw and three consecutive MLS defeats. The Sounders followed a similar trajectory, bowing out of the Champions Cup in the quarterfinals to Tigres UANL before managing only one win, two draws and one defeat in May league play. Germán Berterame #19 celebrates with Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami. Messi’s contribution to Inter Miami’s revival Hoyos took charge of his first Inter Miami match on April 18 against the Colorado Rapids, and under the Argentine coach the team has found a level of consistency that was largely absent earlier in the season. A significant factor in that turnaround, beyond the improvement from several players across the squad, has been Lionel Messi returning to his best form. Since that Colorado Rapids fixture, Messi has featured in seven games, scoring seven goals and adding five assists. In May alone across four appearances, he has posted four goals and four assists, performances that have positioned him as the leading candidate for the MLS Player of the Month award. Who sits at the top of the CONCACAF rankings? Over the stretch that includes the Colorado match, Inter Miami have posted five wins, one draw and one defeat with 20 goals scored, accumulating 1,241 points in the CONCACAF index. Despite the momentum, the gap between the Herons and the Liga MX clubs occupying the top three remains considerable. Tigres UANL and Deportivo Toluca hold the top two spots with 1,277 and 1,276 points respectively, as the two CONCACAF Champions Cup finalists. Cruz Azul, who reached the quarterfinals and are set to face Pumas UNAM in the Liga MX Clausura final, sit third with 1,258 points, leaving a 17-point gap between them and the highest-ranked MLS club.
