César Montes

César Montes is named in Mexico's provisional squad for the 2026 World Cup, a tall centre-back in the co-hosts' defence under Javier Aguirre. Mexico have not settled their final 26 yet, with the squad due on 1 June 2026, so his place sits at the projected stage. The Lokomotiv Moscow defender is 29 at kick-off and brings 66 senior Mexico caps and four international goals into the group, having started all three of Mexico's group games at the 2022 World Cup.

Mexico open Group A at home to South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June, with South Korea and the Czech Republic to follow. Aguirre's side qualified automatically as tournament hosts, and Montes is listed among the defenders in that provisional group, where Edson Álvarez is the captain.

Montes is a tall centre-back whose game is built on aerial duels, line-keeping and physical defending in and around his own box. He is a threat at the other end on attacking set pieces, where his height is an asset at corners and free-kicks, and he has four international goals to his name.

For Mexico he is a senior defender with a long run of caps behind him. He started all three group games at the last World Cup, has stayed a regular in the national defence since, and sits in Aguirre's provisional group while the final 26 is settled.

A tall centre-back, Montes adds aerial defending and a set-piece presence to Mexico's mid-tier Goal Rush pick, with 66 caps behind him. Mexico carry a £17m Tier 3 price within the game's £200m card budget, short of the premium top band. Their Group A runs through June from a home opener against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, with South Korea and the Czech Republic to follow as the early fixture context.