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<ul><li>Lost his starting spot to Raúl Jiménez</li><li>Has five goals in 42 appearances for El Tri</li><li>Sees himself as a starter for the opening match</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Santiago Giménez reveals his ideal starting XI for Mexico’s 2026 World Cup opener - and boldly includes himself

<p>Santiago Giménez has made it clear who he wants to line up with when Mexico kicks off its 2026 World Cup campaign. In a recent <a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/1/#chat/space/AAAAlFjFmi0" target="_blank">video interview with “El Escorpión Dorado,”</a> the AC Milan striker named his ideal starting XI - and included himself up top alongside Raúl Jiménez.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Giménez, who has fallen behind Jiménez in the pecking order under Javier Aguirre, still envisions himself playing a key role. Rather than choosing between the two, he embraced the idea of a dual-striker system, something Aguirre briefly experimented with during the Nations League - and with some success. However, that setup was scrapped at the Gold Cup, where Raúl earned the starting job as the lone striker.</p><p>Giménez also backed 16-year-old sensation Gilberto Mora, who has taken Mexican football by storm and secured a place in Aguirre’s starting lineup for major matches. Giménez praised the teenager’s rapid rise and expressed confidence in his ability to contribute on the sport’s biggest stage.</p><p>Despite scoring just five goals in 42 matches for El Tri, Giménez remains hopeful he can earn a leading role when Mexico opens the World Cup on home soil.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p><strong>Goalkeeper:</strong> Luis Ángel Malagón (Club América)
<br><strong>Full-backs:</strong> Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Rodrigo Huescas (Copenhagen)
<br><strong>Center-backs:</strong> Johan Vásquez (Genoa), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow)
<br><strong>Midfielders:</strong> Alexis Vega (Toluca), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), Edson Álvarez (West Ham), César Huerta (Anderlecht)
<br><strong>Forwards:</strong> Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Santiago Giménez (AC Milan)</p>

GIMÉNEZ'S IDEAL STARTING XI

<p>Aguirre’s Mexico will be back in action during the next international break, with friendlies against Japan on Sept. 6 and South Korea on Sept. 9. Both matches are set to be played in the United States.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

Santiago Giménez reveals his ideal starting XI for Mexico’s 2026 World Cup opener - and boldly includes himself | Goal.com

The striker is currently enjoying a break before joining AC Milan for preseason ahead of the new campaign