Aguirre regretful over 2002 World Cup loss to U.S

Mexico's national soccer coach, Javier Aguirre, spoke about a mistake he made during the 2002 World Cup. He explained that this mistake still affects him today. Aguirre's team lost 2-0 to the United States, which was a big disappointment for Mexico. As the team prepares for the Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Canada, Aguirre reflected on his earlier error. He also acknowledged former coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino, who recently admitted he might have made a mistake by leaving striker Santiago Gimenez off the 2022 World Cup roster. Aguirre said accepting one's mistakes can be freeing. Looking back, Aguirre stated he changed the lineup without enough practice, leading to a quick exit from the tournament. "It feels bad when you make a mistake," he said. Since then, Mexico has struggled to advance beyond the round of 16 in World Cups, a round they haven't passed since 1986 when they hosted the event. As Mexico prepares for the 2026 World Cup, which they will co-host with the U.S. and Canada, Aguirre aims to rebuild the team. Historically dominant in the Gold Cup, with nine titles, Mexico has yet to win a Nations League trophy. The U.S. has claimed all the titles since the league began. Meanwhile, on the same day, the U.S. will play against Panama in their semifinal match. The winners of both matches will compete in the final, while the losing teams will battle for third place. All matches will occur at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.