Aguirre goes behind closed doors as World Cup opener nears

Aguirre locks down training ahead of opener

Mexico trained behind closed doors on Sunday as Javier Aguirre finalizes his plan for the World Cup opener against South Africa. No media, no cameras, no leaks. The message is clear – the debut is too important for distractions. (1)

Iran lands in Tijuana amid visa controversy

Iran's squad arrived in Tijuana on Sunday under heavy security, making Mexico their base camp for the group stage even though all their matches will be played in the United States. The team should have touched down a week earlier, but the US delayed visas for several support staff. Iran's federation called it political interference. Coach Amir Ghalenoei didn't hide his frustration: "We should have been here last week because a 12-hour time difference needs two weeks of adjusting. Usually in these tournaments, before technical matters, ethical and human considerations must be respected – which I think for us it was not the case." (2)

Host nation aims deep

German outlet Kicker sized up Mexico's tournament chances and the home expectation is unambiguous: go as far as possible. Mexico shares hosting duties with the US and Canada but the pressure on El Tri to deliver in front of their own crowds is on a different level. The journey starts against South Africa. (3)

Fan-reaktioner

Reddit is buzzing with big-picture questions ahead of the tournament. One thread asks whether any North American host can realistically reach the final, with fans debating if home advantage can close the gap to Europe and South America's elite. Another post flags a potential disruption in Mexico City – a teacher strike threatening to spill into World Cup festivities. Read the hosts debate