Former Mexico striker Javier Hernández said the national team will benefit from home-field advantage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup [1].
This perspective is significant because Mexico is co-hosting the tournament alongside the U.S. and Canada. The psychological and physical benefits of playing in familiar environments can often alter the trajectory of a national team during the world's largest sporting event.
Hernández, who currently serves as a Fox Sports analyst, said that the presence of local supporters will be a decisive factor [2]. He said that playing in front of Mexican fans on familiar pitches will increase the confidence and overall performance of the squad [2].
"Playing at home in 2026 will give us a massive boost; the fans will be behind us every minute," Hernández said in a 2024 interview with FIFA.com [3].
The former striker believes that the atmospheric pressure of a home crowd creates a unique competitive edge. He said that home-field advantage is something that cannot be underestimated—it can be the difference between a win and a loss [4].
As the all-time leading scorer for Mexico with 52 goals in 109 appearances [5], Hernández brings a deep historical perspective to his analysis. He believes that the synergy between the players, and the spectators in their own stadiums, will serve as a primary catalyst for the team's success [6].
"If we have the support of the Mexican fans in our own stadiums, it will be a huge factor for El Tri," Hernández said [6].
“"Playing at home in 2026 will give us a massive boost; the fans will be behind us every minute."”
The 2026 World Cup represents a rare opportunity for Mexico to leverage domestic support on a global stage. By emphasizing the psychological impact of the crowd, Hernández highlights a strategic advantage that could offset technical gaps against higher-ranked opponents, potentially extending Mexico's run in the knockout stages.
