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Mexico continue their World Cup preparations with a friendly against Serbia at the Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca on Friday morning.
The co-hosts will kick off the tournament with their opening group match against South Africa on home soil, and will want to put on a show for the watching audience.
Serbia did not qualify for the World Cup themselves, and instead their focus will be on the upcoming UEFA Nations League after this friendly.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Mexico vs. Serbia key stats
- Mexico are unbeaten in seven games (W5, D2).
- Serbia have lost five of their last eight matches in all competitions (W3).
- Mexico won the previous H2H 2-0 in 2011.
Mexico vs. Serbia preview: World Cup co-hosts to win?
| Mexico | vs | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | FIFA Ranking | 39 |
| Guillermo Ochoa (152) | Most Caps | Andrija Zivkovic (62) |
| Raul Jimenez (44) | Most Goals | Strahinja Pavlovic (5) |
| 1195 | Total Caps | 212 |
| 114 | Total Goals | 8 |
| 0 | Uncapped Players | 4 |
Mexico will have pressure on them to perform at the World Cup given they are co-hosting it alongside Canada and the United States.
They qualified for the tournament a staggering 18 times, including every one since 1994, but have never made it past the quarter-final.
Javier Aguirre will be in charge of the national team for the World Cup, and they have prepared for it well having been unbeaten in their previous seven matches (W5, D2).
The 26-man squad selected for the World Cup includes veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who holds the most caps with 152, while top scorer Raul Jimenez (44) will possess a threat up front.
Unfortunately for Serbia, they were unable to qualify for the World Cup, and instead will be watching from home.
They had qualified for four of the previous five, including in 2022, and it will be seen as a failure not to do so this time around with the expanded format.
Veljko Paunovic is in charge of trying to turn things around, and has picked a relatively new squad with four uncapped players and not too many caps between the rest of them.
Travelling to Mexico where the nation is behind them ahead of hosting the World Cup, Serbia will be seen as underdogs here.
Mexico vs. Serbia form guide & betting tips
| Mexico | vs | Serbia |
|---|---|---|
WDDWW |
Form | LWLWL |
| 8 | Goals For | 4 |
| 2 | Goals Against | 10 |
DWW |
Friendlies | LWL |
Whispers predicts: Mexico 2-0 Serbia
Mexico are 2/5 (1.40) favourites to win, but while we agree with the bookies, these odds are too short for us to back.
Instead, our first pick is BTTS – No at 8/11 (1.73), which has come through in six of Mexico's last seven games in all competitions.
With both teams averaging fewer than two goals per game across their previous five matches across all competitions, Under 2.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00) also appeals.
Overall, we are predicting a repeat of the H2H in 2011 with Correct score – 2-0 at 11/2 (6.50).
> BTTS – No at 8/11 (1.73) | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score – 2-0 at 11/2 (6.50) | Likelihood: Outsider