This Chivas starlet is on course to stamp his World Cup ticket
If he maintains his scoring rate in the next Liga MX tournament, Armando González is in line for a spot on Mexico’s World Cup roster.
Armando “Hormiga” González’s 12-goal haul in the Apertura 2025 have left the Chivas Guadalajara striker firmly in the conversation as one of Liga MX’s standout players.
González’s performances have already earned him a spot for this month’s FIFA international window, where Mexico will face Paraguay and Uruguay. But that’s not all - a source told AS that the Chivas youngster is strongly positioned to make Mexico’s roster for the 2026 World Cup.
Although González has yet to log a single minute with El Tri, his relentless drive and intensity week after week in Liga MX appear to be the key reasons Javier Aguirre has him on the radar for the global stage. Of course, everything hinges on whether he can maintain this level of play - and, more importantly, his scoring pace - through the final stretch of this tournament and into the Clausura 2026.
Another factor being weighed in favor of González is avoiding a repeat of what happened four years ago, when Santiago Giménez - the breakout young striker at the time - was left off the Qatar roster. In other words, the plan could be to give González World Cup experience regardless of how many minutes he sees on the pitch.
Mexico’s striker options for the World Cup
Right now, Mexico has two center forwards who seem locked in for the World Cup: Giménez and Raúl Jiménez. With the final roster expanding to 26 players, a third striker slot opens up - and that’s where González’s name is gaining traction.
Who González is competing against for a spot
González is now the frontrunner for that third center forward role, but he’ll have to beat out contenders like Germán Berterame, Henry Martín and Ángel Sepúlveda- players with more previous call-ups. However, recent injuries have gradually pushed those names out of Aguirre’s plans, giving González a real shot at punching his ticket to 2026.
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