'I don’t see myself on the Mexico national team' - Club America star Álvaro Fidalgo shuts the door on El Tri

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is drawing nearer. Amid the growing anticipation, Álvaro Fidalgo’s potential call-up to the Mexican national team has become a topic of discussion in recent months. The Club América midfielder has now spent four years playing in Mexico and holds Mexican nationality, making him eligible to represent El Tri next year once he reaches the five-year residency requirement.

Fidalgo has become a fan favorite among América supporters, playing a pivotal role in the team’s three consecutive league titles. He has appeared in 198 matches and is currently wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Henry Martín. Despite his success in Liga MX and growing connection with Mexican football, the idea of wearing the green jersey remains distant for the Spanish midfielder, who has emerged as a potential candidate to join Javier Aguirre’s squad.

In a recent interview with ESPN, Fidalgo discussed his future at Club America and firmly ruled out the possibility of joining the Mexican national team for the upcoming World Cup, stating that it is not something currently on his radar.

“I have one year left on my contract, and it’s a very complicated topic,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t know exactly how the situation stands. As you mentioned, maybe the coach doesn’t like me—it’s a tricky subject. There's still a lot of time before the World Cup, and I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what my short- or long-term future holds. To be honest, if you ask me today if I’ve thought about it or planned for it, the answer is no. I’m focused on the present, on what’s happening now, and for many reasons, I don’t see myself on the Mexican national team.”

The reality is that Fidalgo has never truly felt part of, nor shown a strong inclination toward, representing Mexico in his footballing career—or, at the very least, he has been extremely cautious and measured about the topic. In Mexico, there has long been a tendency to push for standout foreign players in Liga MX to join the national team, and Fidalgo's case has often been driven more by media attention than genuine interest from the player himself.

Despite consistently downplaying the possibility of donning the green jersey, the Spaniard’s undeniable quality and status as an idol at the country’s most decorated club make him a natural candidate for El Tri. Whether his perspective changes as his eligibility date draws closer next year remains to be seen—and in the end, it may depend on whether he chooses to knock on Aguirre’s door.

Despite distancing himself from the national team conversation, Fidalgo took the opportunity to praise the level of Mexican football, emphasizing the depth and talent in his position that could fuel the national team’s success.

“There are many quality players in those positions. For example, as a holding midfielder, guys like Edson [Álvarez], [Erik] Lira, and Isra [Reyes]—who can also play right-back or center-back—are doing a great job," he said. "In the No. 8 role, you have ‘Chiquito’ Sánchez, Luis Chávez, Charly Rodríguez, Marcel Ruiz, and a very promising young player in Elías Montiel. As a No. 10, you’ve got Julián [Quiñones], Orbelín [Pineda], Carlos Rodríguez, and many other great players."

Aguirre’s team will face Switzerland on June 7 in Utah, followed by a match against Turkey on June 10 in North Carolina, as part of their preparations for the Gold Cup, which kicks off on the 14th of the same month.