Mexico Double trip to South America

The Mexican national team will start the new year with two friendlies in Brazil and Argentina. On Thursday they face Brazil’s Internacional, before next week they face River Plate at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Mexico have a jam-packed schedule ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which they will share hosting duties with Canada and the United States.

In March, El Tri face Canada in the semi-finals of the Nations League for a place in the final, where they will play either the USA or Panama for a shot at glory.

The Gold Cup returns in the summer, a competition that currently belongs to Mexico after winning in 2023. Santiago Giménez’s last-minute winner secured victory for El Trí as they hope to retain the title.

What can they expect from the games in January as Mexico go for CONCACAF bragging rights in the Nations League and Gold Cup?

A club from the city of Porto Alegre, Sport Club Internacional or simply Inter, is a force in the top class of Brazilian football.

Competing in the Campeonato Gaúcho, a regional tournament for teams from Rio Grande do Sul – the southernmost state in Brazil – they hold the record for the most titles, having won it 45 times. Historically, they dominate this competition, often swapping honors with fellow top club Grêmio. In fact, since 2000 the title has been shared exclusively between the two rivals.

The club’s pride and joy remains with the two Copa Libertadores titles they won in four years between 2006 and 2010.

On a domestic front, Inter finished the most recent campaign in 9th place, 14 points adrift of eventual winners Botafogo. Often found at the top end of the table, they finished the 2022 season in second place, albeit eight points behind Palmeiras.

The squad consists of 2022 UEFA Europa League winner with Eintracht Frankfurt Rafael Santos Borré and Ecuadorian veteran Enner Valencia, along with last season’s top scorer Wesley, who joined the club at the start of the season from Cruzeiro.

The Argentine giants have left an indelible mark on the country’s domestic scene, boasting an unrivaled record of 38 Primera División titles, four Copa Libertadores trophies and 16 national cups, cementing their status as the most decorated club in Argentine football.

Mexico face River Plate at the Estadio Monumental, one of the most historic stadiums in world football, which holds 85,000 people.

Known for their passionate and unwavering fan base, River Plate are synonymous with one of the fiercest rivalries in world football, their legendary clash with city rivals Boca Juniors. Over the years, the club has been home to iconic players such as José Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera, Ángel Labruna, Amadeo Carrizo, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Omar Sívori, Daniel Passarella, Enzo Francescoli, Hernán Crespo, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuaín.

River Plate’s current squad features notable players such as former West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini, former Monterrey star Maximiliano Meza and last season’s top scorer Miguel Borja. This past summer, the club announced the return of legendary manager Marcelo Gallardo, who previously guided River to their most recent Copa Libertadores triumph in 2018 before leaving in 2022 to manage Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.