Before the 2026 World Cup, Mexicans argued about naturalizados, players born abroad who became Mexican citizens, in the national team. In 2025, Récord reported a warning by the commentator Roberto Gómez Junco: “Si abusas con los naturalizados, caes en una falsa representación” (If you overdo the naturalized players, you end up with a false representation). Some critics called his view xenophobic.
The player Héctor Herrera later told TUDN that he would not call naturalized players. Each player, he said, should represent the country where he was born. In February 2026, the naturalized player Álvaro Fidalgo answered in Récord that the coach decides. “Aguirre es el que manda” (Aguirre is the one in charge), he said. (Video in Spanish.)