The U-17 national team will be looking for another World Cup triumph; we're a powerhouse in the category, says De Nigris.

Alberto Aceves

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, October 18, 2025, p. a11

For more than 14 years, the Tricolor's championships in the U-17 World Cup (Peru 2005 and Mexico 2011) have raised questions about the youth system, club development problems, and the increasing number of foreign players per transfer window. In the finals against Brazil and Uruguay, less than half of the 42 players who won were able to remain on the professional circuit. Others collected only memories, retired, participated in reality TV shows , faced injuries and financial hardship, and dedicated their final years to playing in amateur tournaments for a fee.

In the generation coached by Carlos Cariño, the best national teams were three years old when Antonio Briseño and Giovani Casillas scored the goals that decided the most recent final (2-0) against La Celeste at the Azteca Stadium. In the five subsequent editions, from the United Arab Emirates to Indonesia, the Mexican team returned to the final stages of the Cup twice. They lost in 2013 to Nigeria (3-0) in Abu Dhabi, and against the host Brazil, four-time champion of this tournament, they fell in 2019 (2-1) with a comeback.

“Many of those champions were unknown before the World Cup,” Cariño said at a press conference, recalling those matches that changed the history of Mexican soccer. “Over time, Giovani (Dos Santos) and (Carlos) Vela emerged, players who fulfilled the dream we all once had. Young people today live on social media; they want to be at the center of sports coverage, but they must keep their feet on the ground. While they achieve important things, people will come looking for them. This story must begin with them.”

The 2025 World Cup in Qatar – from November 3 to 27 – will be the first to be played with an expanded format of 48 nations instead of 24. Mexico will open the first phase of Group F with South Korea (November 4) and then face Ivory Coast and Switzerland on November 7 and 10, respectively. According to the competition regulations, the two highest-placed teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will qualify for the knockout series. From the round of 32 onwards, if a match ends in a draw during regular time, the winner will be decided by penalty shootout without extra time.

El Tricolor qualified for the tournament by winning the CONCACAF title at home against the United States (3-1) in February 2023. “More than feeling pressure, the World Cup excites us. Mexico is a powerhouse in this category, and we're going to prove it there,” says Monterrey forward Aldo de Nigris, referring to their goal for the upcoming youth team tournament. “We're going for the championship.”

Despite the absence of Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora, the Mexican squad includes names reminiscent of former national team players: Lucca Vuoso, son of Vicente Matías Vuoso; Aldo de Nigris, whose father of the same name was a Rayados star; Máximo Reyes, firstborn son of Joaquín Reyes; and Abdon Turrubiates, heir to former goalkeeper Emanuel Turrubiates. All of them were considered by Cariño to continue his World Cup campaign with the U-17s.

“Gilberto (son of Gilberto Mora, former Tijuana player) isn't with us because he played in the U-20 World Cup and the Gold Cup,” Cariño explains. “What he's shown is that he has the quality to be on the senior team. Who wouldn't want to have him? We have to let him grow.”

From the editorial staff

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, October 18, 2025, p. a11

With the label of European Champions League winner, Frenchman Patrice Lair has lived up to expectations by smoothly leading Toluca to the playoffs in his first season in the Liga MX Femenil. The Scarlets took advantage of Necaxa's shortcomings, currently in last place, to defeat them 2-0 and secure their spot in the quarterfinals on the penultimate matchday of the 2025 Apertura tournament, a stage they hadn't reached in a year.

Of the seven times Toluca has advanced to the playoffs in the women's tournament, this is the first time they've done so, with a surprising run, after reaching 30 points, which currently places them in fourth place overall with a streak of four consecutive matches without losing.

Lair's arrival was promising, boasting two Women's Champions League titles and a French League title with Olympique Lyonnais, which she managed from 2010 to 2014. Her signing was seen as a message from the Diablos board: after winning the Liga MX title, they were now seeking the championship in the women's competition.

French Legion

They also signed former French national team captain Amandine Henry and top scorer Eugenie Le Sommer, who has scored 11 goals.

Now, on the field of the Estadio Victoria, the Mexicans took just 10 minutes to take the lead when Naomi Muñoz connected with a header to shake the nets. The Toluca team sealed the victory shortly before halftime when New Zealander Abby Erceg (36) also reached the goal with another header.

In Querétaro, Cruz Azul thrashed Gallos 4-1 and moved one step away from the playoffs. The Celestes, who are aiming to return to the quarterfinals after three years, reached 27 points and will decide their place in a match against Ciudad Juárez and León, who both have 24 points and are still aspiring to qualify.

Ana Martínez (15), Aerial Chavarin (25), Valeria Valdez (38) and Daniela Calderón (90+5) scored the goals that helped La Máquina awaken its dream of qualifying for the playoffs.

In a playoff game, Santos defeated Mazatlán 2-1 at Corona Stadium, meaning both teams are out.