Cristiano Ronaldo’s Upcoming Match at Azteca Stadium
Cristiano Ronaldo may make an appearance at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on March 28, as part of a preparatory match against Portugal, currently ranked sixth in the world. This friendly, confirmed by the Mexican Football Federation, will be the first of two high-profile matches for Mexico in the March international window, with the second facing Belgium at Soldier Field in Chicago on March 31.
Ronaldo’s Suspension and Recent Performance
Ronaldo, who plays for Al Nassr, was recently given a three-match suspension due to a red card received during World Cup qualifying when he elbowed an opponent from the Republic of Ireland. However, he has already fulfilled the one-match requirement of that suspension by missing Portugal’s last qualifying match, where they achieved a dominant 9-1 victory against Armenia, securing their spot in the upcoming World Cup. Although FIFA deemed Ronaldo’s actions as “violent conduct,” the remainder of his suspension has been deferred under a one-year probationary period.
Mexico’s Preparation for the World Cup
After a subpar series of matches that included four draws and defeats against Colombia and Paraguay, Mexican national team coach, Javier Aguirre, aims to sharpen his squad against top-tier opponents ahead of the World Cup. Historically, Mexico has struggled against Portugal, having never won in their six prior encounters.
Upcoming World Cup Matches
The Mexican squad, which faced elimination in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, will kick off Group A matches in the upcoming tournament at Azteca on June 11 against a competitor yet to be determined during the draw on December 5. Following that, they will head to Guadalajara for a game on June 18 and will conclude the group stage back at Azteca on June 24.
