'Atmosphere of harmony' - Javier Aguirre takes pride in culture, saying players have regained their 'importance' in the Mexican national team

Nearly a year into Javier Aguirre’s third tenure as head coach of the Mexican national team, results on the field may still be a work in progress - but something deeper has shifted within the squad: a renewed sense of pride. Ahead of Wednesday night's Gold Cup semifinal against Honduras at Levi’s Stadium, the veteran coach emphasized the positive internal atmosphere that now defines El Tri.

“I’m not sure if we’ve improved in every aspect - it wouldn’t be fair to compare - but what we’ve definitely gained is pride,” Aguirre said. “The desire to represent Mexico is back. We’ve created a real sense of harmony and belonging. The players feel important again.”

Known for spells with clubs such as Atlético Madrid and Osasuna, Aguirre has now overseen 13 matches since his return to the national team. While Mexico is still finding consistency in its play, the coaching staff has made clear progress in laying a foundation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico.

“We’ve learned something from every match - even the three losses,” Aguirre noted. “There’s a clear path forward. We’re tracking around 50 or 60 players, and we hope to expand that pool. The key achievement in this short time has been building that sense of national identity again.”

Aguirre praised Honduras for their tournament run.

“They’ve done well. We’ll face them with respect and a desire to play good football,” he said. “We know each other very well at this point. From humility, we aim to keep growing.”

The Genoa defender spoke ahead of facing the “Catrachos” in the Gold Cup semifinals.

“I don’t know if we’re the favorites, but we have a lot of confidence in ourselves - and with the respect that other countries owe us,” he said.

Aguirre already lifted a Gold Cup in 2009 and now seeks to add another regional title to his résumé. A win could put him and El Tri just one step away from a 10th championship - and set the tone heading into their final stretch before the 2026 World Cup.