Jaime Ordiales 'embarrassed' following Mexico's World Cup elimination
Mexican national teams sporting director Jaime Ordiales admitted he feels a "professional embarrassment," following El Tri’s elimination from the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
"We're embarrassed and we have to apologize," Ordiales said during a news conference, alongside Mexican Football Federation president Yon de Luisa. "It's necessary to face this failure and this makes us responsible to have to show the professional embarrassment that we have."
El Tri entered the last match of the group stage with one point, after drawing 0-0 against Poland and losing 0-2 to Argentina. The team needed a 3-0 triumph over Saudi Arabia, or a desirable result between Poland and Argentina.
But despite best efforts and a cathartic ending that saw El Tri score twice, with two more goals disallowed, Albiceleste’s 2-0 victory over Poland proved to be lethal. Argentina advanced as leaders of Group C, while the Polish edged out Mexico with the goal difference of one.
"We were one goal away from avoiding failure," De Luisa said. "We will be making structural changes, like in the number of foreign players in the tournaments."
Mexico has qualified for the round-of-16 in their past seven World Cup appearances, adding to this year’s disappointment. The team last remained in the tournament’s group stage in 1978, losing against Poland, West Germany, and Tunisia.
El Tri will now look to reshape management and plan for the 2026 World Cup. Several changes have already been made, with Gerardo Martino officially out as manager and the search for a new leader underway.
"His contract ended yesterday," Ordiales said. "In the end, the results command. With a failure like this it is impossible for him to continue. I know he is a hard worker, I've seen him every day, but we work for the national team and the best thing to do right now is to look elsewhere.''
Ordiales and De Luisa confirmed they do not plan on resigning from their posts, and instead hope to rebuild for 2026.
"A resignation is not necessary and now that this cycle ends, the [league] owners will decide whether to continue this or not," De Luisa said.
Mexico has already qualified for the upcoming edition of the World Cup, as the country co-hosts the tournament alongside Canada and the United States.