Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano Excluded From Mexico's Preliminary World Cup Roster

Mexico national team manager Javier Aguirre has revealed his 55-man preliminary roster for the 2026 World Cup, with San Diego FC winger Hirving "Chucky" Lozano arguably being the most notable omission from the list.

Headlined by Fulham’s Raul Jimenez, Fenerbahçe’s Edson Alvarez, and veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who is attempting to appear in his sixth World Cup, Mexico’s roster will be narrowed down to 26 players by June 1, the official FIFA deadline. 

Mexico is set to kick off the tournament on home soil on June 11 against South Africa at the Estadio Banorte.

Lozano’s exclusion follows a period of inactivity and reported disciplinary tension with San Diego FC. 

Aguirre previously stated that consistent playing time was a requirement for selection, a condition Lozano was unable to meet after falling out of favor with his club's coaching staff earlier this year.

Lozano enjoyed a promising start to the club's debut MLS season, but internal friction became public in October following reports of a locker room altercation with head coach Mikey Varas.

His final appearance to date for the club came as a substitute during San Diego's 3-1 playoff loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

 (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)

Rodrigo Huescas, a rising star in the Danish Superliga, will miss the tournament as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear suffered during a Champions League match in late 2025. 

Other injury-related absences from Mexico’s preliminary list include Cruz Azul defender Jesús ‘Chiquete’ Orozco and Club América goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón.

In contrast, Aguirre has included several players recently returning from injury layoffs, such as Dynamo Moscow's Luis Chávez, R.S.C. Anderlecht's César Huerta, and