Mexico is the top purveyor of futbol rapido, and has a strong history in futbol siete (seven-a-side outdoor soccer), but now they are back to take another shot at WMF’s top prize. The Mexican federation announced its roster for the 2019 WMF World Cup in Perth, Australia.
Mexico is best known in the minifootball community as the runner-up (or subcampeon) of the two previous WMF World Cups. The US won the first ever WMF World Cup in 2015, which was played in an arena soccer format. In the soccer-6 version in 2017, Mexico fell to the Czech Republic in the Tunisian final.
Mexico went 3-1 this summer against the US in an arena soccer exhibition series, with both teams making liberal changes to their lineups each game.
Mexico will open in Group E with Ivory Coast, Somalia, and Moldova.
The Mexicans return the goalkeeper tandem of Diego Reynoso and Bernaldino Valdovinos, who split time in Tunisia in 2017. The roster notably features eight players from the San Diego Sockers.
It will be hard to win the ball from Mexico with high-motor ball handlers like Pee Wee Ortega, Brandon Escoto, Miguel Vaca, Hiram Ruiz, and Daniel Villela driving the tempo.
Eight players return from the 2017 Tunisia roster and Valdivinos is the only Mexico player selected for all three WMF World Cups.
Team Mexico Staff and Roster:
- Alfredo Maccise – President FNFR, Sergio del Rio – VP FNFR
- Rene Ortiz – Head Coach
- Luis Borrego – Assistant Coach
- Victor Melendez – Assistant Coach, Goalkeeper Trainer
- Eusebio Martinez – Fitness and Conditioning Coach
- Salvador Manzo: Administrator
- Carlos Luna: Media
| Name | Position | # | Team |
| Bernaldino Valdovinos | Goalkeeper | 1 | Monterrey Flash |
| Diego Reynoso | Goalkeeper | 30 | Monterrey Flash |
| Guerrero Pino | Defender | 5 | San Diego Sockers |
| Luis “Pee Wee” Ortega | Defender | 69 | San Diego Sockers |
| Cesar Cerda | Defender | 9 | San Diego Sockers |
| Ismael Rojo | Defender | 23 | San Diego Sockers |
| Raymundo Contreras | Defender | 3 | San Diego Sockers |
| Daniel Villela | Midfield | 15 | Harrisburg Heat |
| Brandon Escoto | Midfield | 10 | San Diego Sockers |
| Christian Gutierrez | Midfield | 4 | San Diego Sockers |
| Hiram Ruiz | Midfield | 63 | San Diego Sockers |
| Carlos Hernandez | Midfield | 7 | Rio Grande Valley Barracudas |
| Miguel Vaca | Midfield | 8 | Monterrey Flash |
| Edgar Gonzalez | Forward | 20 | Monterrey Flash |
| Moises Gonzalez | Forward | 11 | Utica City FC |
