Moisés Muñoz: "We're expecting the best appearance from Mexico in World Cup history"

On September 9, the Mexican National Team will play at Nashville's Geodis Park for the first time ever.

With just months to go before they host the 2026 World Cup along with the United States and Canada, El Tri are taking every chance they can get to play top-quality opposition. Without qualifying matches to play in the buildup to the biggest World Cup ever, friendly matches hold extra significance for the three host nations.

Geodis Park to host Mexico national team in September

El Tri will make Geodis Park debut on September 9 against South Korea

SixOneFive SoccerSixOneFive Soccer Staff

Speaking exclusively to SixOneFive Soccer via Zoom, retired El Tri goalkeeper Moisés Muñoz spoke about the importance of the match, the state of soccer in Mexico, and his hopes for the 2026 World Cup.

Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.

Ben Wright (SixOneFive Soccer): Just 311 days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off! What's your sense of the vibe around the Mexican national team heading into the tournament?

Moisés Muñoz: We're excited. This is going to be the biggest World Cup in history, and for Mexico to have the third World Cup hosting such an important event, it's very exciting. For all soccer fans in Mexico and all over the world. This is the biggest stage you can be at. So it's definitely something to look forward to.

And it's less than a year like you just said. I mean, it's right around the corner. So we're almost there.

BW: When Aston Villa played in Nashville recently, I talked to head coach Unai Emery, and he said something that I think applies to Mexico and the World Cup. He said that the tactical development around the world and general level of soccer is rising significantly, and probably not as European-centric as it used to be.

Teams from all over competing at a high level. Do you feel like that's the case with Mexico, and what do you think this team can maybe show the world here coming up in a few months?

MM: We're expecting to have the biggest and best appearance from Mexico in World Cup history because we're hosting it. There's a lot of expectations from the fans for what Mexico is going to do. And I expect it not only from Mexico, but also from the United States and Canada. I mean, this is our this is our home. This is our venue. This is our event. So we better show up!

I think they're going to show up. The three [host] national teams are going to show up for this World Cup. It's definitely something to look forward to. I mean, the best teams in the world are going to be here, the best national teams. And like you said, soccer has grown a lot in America. In the past 10 years, the US and Canada teams have grown a lot, probably a lot more than Mexico. So we're actually kind of like the same level right now.

Mexico used to be the biggest national team in Concacaf. But now, the level is right at the same stage. So, yeah, it's grown a lot.

We're expecting to have the biggest event in history here in our in our continent, in our confederation. And with the FIFA Club World Cup that just has been celebrated here, it's shown that the level from our continents is not as far away from from Europe and the biggest nations in the world.

BW: Do you think the growth from the United States and Canada, and now their ability to genuinely rival Mexico, is good for the sport in North America?

MM: Definitely! We have big-level teams. It's better to have those than to have a big difference between one and the other.

It's been better for the competition and it's grown our soccer levels to the maximum. There's always room for improvement, but we're standing at a great level right now. And if we can in the next months, if we can better up that level, we're going to show the world that there's a lot of great soccer played here in America.

BW: Looking at these these friendlies coming up, Mexico always draws huge crowds in the in the States, often out-drawing the US in head-to-head games. What do you think it is about this team that when you play in the United States, people come out in droves to support their team?

MM: We have a very loyal fans. Every time there's an opportunity for fans here in the States to watch their national team, to see their players it's kind of like being in Mexico. It's kind of like being at home. So they see this these type of events like they're going home. And so that's why it's so important for for fans to be at these matches like the match in Nashville against Korea.

It's a great opportunity to see a preview of what the World Cup is going to be. It's on on a real FIFA window. So the best players for each national team are going to be in Nashville. That's going to be a great a great match. Definitely something to look forward to.

And, you know, talking about the Mexico team players where they're going to be able to see players like Raúl Jiménez, Santi Giménez. It's players that are actually playing in Europe right now.

And on the Korean side, watching such a great player like a Heung-min Son who just signed for LAFC. To see a player like that in Nashville is going to be great.

BW: As a host, Mexico don't have to play World Cup qualifying matches. How important are friendlies like this as real preparation for the tournament?

MM: It's considered a friendly match, but on the pitch it's not going to be friendly. It's going to be taken very seriously by the Mexican team because of what you just said. There's not going to be qualifiers for the World Cup since we're going to be hosts.

So yeah, these games are going to be taken like a qualifier for the World Cup since there's not going to be any. Every match that Mexico can play from here to the World Cup, it's going to be kind of like a qualifier, so it's going to be very serious.

BW: You mentioned earlier players who will be on the pitch on September 9. What have you made of 16-year-old Gilberto Mora's recent involvement with the team?

MM: He's a great player! He has great abilities and a lot of personality for a teenager.

They're obviously not going to be expecting him to be the face of the national team, but they're going to be grooming him to be the player that he can be. At this level, he's shown a lot of great abilities and personality. He's definitely going to be taken seriously for this World Cup. That's something also to look for in a youngster.

BW: How valuable is it to have World Cup experience under your belt at that age, when you're still just starting out your career? How many 16 year olds can say they've played in a World Cup?

MM: I don't know if Pelé was one of them, but you're talking about probably the best player in history. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Pelé was 17 years and 239 days old on his World Cup debut in 1958]. So for Mora, it's going to be the best experience that he can have. And if he gets the chance to play in this World Cup, that's going to be probably the best experience that he's going to have in his life.

It's the biggest stage. There's nothing bigger than the World Cup for any soccer players. This is going to be a huge for him. And also for the fans, I mean, having a youngster representing your country, for kids and for teenagers, that's going to be mind-blowing. It's opening a lot of opportunities for them also.

BW: What have you made of Nashville as a soccer city?

MM: It's growing a lot. We know Nashville as a music city, but now sports have grown a lot in town. Soccer is well represented with a team they have in Nashville.

[Geodis Park] is a great venue. It's the biggest stadium that they've made for soccer purposes. When I played in Nashville, it was at Nissan Stadium. That was a couple of years ago, but now that they have this soccer stadium built, it's going to be great just to have the experience to play there and know that this is the biggest stage that you guys have here in the States for soccer purposes.

Mexico will take on South Korea at Geodis Park on Tuesday, September 9. Tickets can be purchased here.