04/07/2026 15:45 - Deportes
Forty years ago, a devastating earthquake struck Mexico and nearly canceled the World Cup. Today, the national team seeks to revive the magic of isolation ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
On September 19, 1985, a devastating earthquake struck Mexico City. The quake left a tragic toll of at least 5,000 dead (though some estimates raise the figure to 40,000) and left 30,000 people homeless. Much of the capital lay in ruins, raising doubts about the viability of hosting the World Cup the following year.
There were calls to cancel or relocate the tournament, but since the stadiums, including the historic Estadio Azteca, remained standing, the Mexican government, backed by FIFA, decided to proceed. Mexico had taken over hosting duties in 1983 after Colombia withdrew for economic and security reasons.
Despite the decision, the ghost of the tragedy lingered. During the opening ceremony in 1986, then-president Miguel de la Madrid was booed by 100,000 spectators at the Azteca, who showed their displeasure over the management of the post-earthquake crisis.
Serbian coach Bora Milutinović made a drastic decision in 1985: he separated the players from their clubs for an entire year. The Mexican national team (affectionately known as 'El Tri') traveled the world playing over 20 friendlies, but the most legendary moment was their training at the summit of the La Malinche volcano, at an altitude of 4,460 meters.
There, the team suffered, shivered, and bonded. That experience forged the spirit that led Mexico to the quarter-finals, their best historical performance. Milutinović recalls that the only way to achieve something was to be together. That time prepared them mentally and was so effective that they had a highly successful World Cup.
Four decades later, the current coach of El Tri, Javier Aguirre, who was a player under Milutinović in 1986, seems inspired by that old belief. Aguirre convinced the Mexican Football Federation to pull 12 players from Liga MX (Mexico's top professional football division) during the decisive playoff phase. The players have been secluded together for 30 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
This measure sparked controversy, as teams like Chivas de Guadalajara (one of Mexico's most popular clubs) lost five starters and fell in the semifinals against Cruz Azul (another major team), who only released one player. However, the hope is that this isolation will reignite lost camaraderie.
In their preparation, Mexico won their last friendly against Ghana 2-0, although both teams fielded weakened lineups due to the absence of European-based players. While critics point out that modern football and systemic problems make repeating the feat difficult, optimism persists. Milutinović, now 81 years old, trusts that Mexican fans will ignite the players' pride, just as they did in 1986. The motto of La Malinche resonates again, hoping that unity and effort will lead El Tri to revive the magic at home.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
