San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Eduardo Biscayart, our luxury signing in “The World Cup Voice” of LA PRENSA Newspaper in the World Cup 2026sponsored by Davivienda analyzes what Mexico has “to reach those instances of the fifth and sixth games.” The Argentine analyst also gave his point of view on Panama.
Regarding the Mexican squad, he points out that the group has “the seniority of Ochoa, Edson Álvarez as the mainstay of the defense, of the defensive midfield”, but recognizes that it is “a base of footballers where there are not very high points, but I think there is a well-worked group.”
The expert highlights that Mexico, because it is the host, “has not gone through the qualifying phase, so the only parameter we have to measure Mexico are some friendlies, which are not always the measure, and the Gold Cup that it ended up winning against the United States.”
Biscayart predicts that “with the enthusiasm that exists in Mexico we are going to see a team that will be supported and that perhaps if the circumstances are right, especially in those games against South Korea and the Czech Republic, we can see Mexico not only playing the fifth, but as you said, the sixth game, because the first five are all on Mexican territory.”
Regarding Panama in their difficult group against Ghana, Croatia and England, Biscayart says: “If Panama can manage to win a match it would be glorious.” Regarding who he could win against, he says: “That is the million-dollar question, because they are all teams that the Canalero team looks at from below.” The expert suggests that the boys “will play a good game against both Ghana and Croatia, then they will find themselves against a team that has already beaten them in their first World Cup, such as the English team.”
Eduardo Biscayart analyzes that “it is not an easy group, because outside the English peak we have a team that has been a semi-finalist in the last two editions of the World Cup, which has been a finalist eight years ago.” Regarding Croatia, he points out: “While it is true, Croatia has lost the important base of its players who led it to that final eight years ago, which has also meant that eight years have passed for Panama. It is a different group, it is a different technical leadership.”
On the path of PanamaBiscayart acknowledges: “Panama’s path to reaching the World Cup was not easy, because there were moments in which it hesitated, it depended on results until the last day.” But he highlights: “But I think that in the balance outside of the hosts, the Canal team has been the team that has maintained a much higher regularity in these four years. It had been very close to going to the last World Cup and now it did qualify, although the truth is that it did not have much left over.”
When asked who could win, Biscayart He says: “I would give it to Ghana and I think that if they win against Ghana they could go and fight for something more and perhaps a draw against Croatia will allow Panama to be able to qualify as one of the third or perhaps second in the group.” The expert emphasizes: “So, the debut against a Ghanaian team that has high individual points is essential. It is one of the most solid African teams, so well, we are going to see Ghana’s version, but we are not talking about an easy match at all.”
Regarding the team that could go further in CONCACAF, Biscayart responds clearly: “It seems to me that Mexico, not only because of the situation of the home field, but also what the locality represents in Mexico, the altitude, playing especially in the Mexican capital, in the Azteca stadium. I think that if Mexico uses that element in its favor, it will have the possibility of giving a high rhythm to the games and thus perhaps being able to overcome its football and technical deficiencies.”
Biscayart concludes that “it is not the best Mexican team in history, the one that is going to appear in this World Cup. It is not even close to what the 1986 team was, when Mexico was also host. In the last World Cup, with a generation perhaps with some even higher points, Mexico came out in the first round of the tournament.” His final prediction: “So let’s see if Aguirre’s mystique, Rafa Márquez’s work, some players, especially the local players, some young people can give Mexico that.”
