Mexico's President Revives World Cup Sendoff for Team

A tradition returns just in time for Mexico's biggest soccer moment in decades.

President Claudia Sheinbaum renewed a beloved national ritual Monday, hosting an official sendoff ceremony for El Tri before the team opens the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil Thursday. The ceremony at Mexico City's High Performance Center marked the return of a tradition that began in 1998 but was skipped four years ago.

The emotional highlight came when Sheinbaum presented the national flag to Guillermo Ochoa, the veteran goalkeeper and fan favorite who will attend his sixth World Cup. If he plays, Ochoa will have competed in exactly one third of all World Cup tournaments in which Mexico has ever appeared.

"I entrust this flag to your patriotism, a flag that symbolizes your independence, honor, institutions, our people and the integrity of your territory," Sheinbaum told the gathered team. The players and coaches responded with a resounding pledge to honor and defend it.

The ceremony brought together owners and executives from Mexico's professional soccer league, government officials, and members of the armed forces. All 26 players stood alongside coach Javier Aguirre and the entire training staff for the historic moment.

Sheinbaum's words carried special weight as Mexico prepares to co-host the tournament with Canada and the United States. "May your example inspire millions of Mexicans to believe in the strength of sport and the power of their dreams," she told the team.

Why This Inspires

This ceremony represents more than just pregame pageantry. The previous administration's decision to skip the tradition in 2022 disappointed many fans who see these moments as vital connections between national identity and athletic achievement.

Now, as Mexico hosts World Cup matches for the third time, the restoration of this ceremony signals renewed recognition of soccer's cultural importance. The team faces South Africa in Thursday's opening match at Estadio Azteca, the same two nations that opened the 2010 tournament with a memorable draw.

For Ochoa and his teammates, carrying that flag means representing 130 million Mexicans on the world's biggest stage, in their own stadiums, with their president's blessing restored.