Paunovic reportedly framed Mexico’s opportunity around more than just talent.
That matters because tournament football is often shaped by fine margins. A loud stadium, familiar climate and a crowd ready to lift every recovery run and every attack can push a good side into becoming a dangerous one. Mexico have felt that before on home soil, even if the ultimate breakthrough has always remained elusive.
Paunovic also reportedly highlighted Javier Aguirre as a key part of the picture. That rings true. Aguirre has long been seen as a steady tournament operator: experienced, pragmatic and comfortable carrying national expectation. For a side that can sometimes get pulled between emotion and urgency, that kind of authority matters.
The update says Paunovic believes Mexico have “more than enough quality to achieve something important.” That may be optimistic, but it is not hard to understand. A settled identity, a crowd behind them and a coach who knows how to navigate pressure is a serious mix.
For Serbia, the game in Toluca was reportedly described by Paunovic as “an extremely demanding” examination. For Mexico, it feels like another small reading on a much bigger question: can home conditions finally help turn promise into a genuinely deep World Cup run?
That will be the storyline to watch as 2026 gets closer - not whether Mexico belong on the stage, but whether the stage might be built perfectly for them.