Apertura 2026 starts with victories for Necaxa and Tijuana

Sergio “Checo” Pérez will not be able to be in the stadium, but his mind is already set on the decisive match of the 2026 World Cup. The Mexican Formula 1 driver shared his opinion about the Final between Spain and Argentina on July 19 in New York.

The dilemma of the Mexican pilot

“Difficult. The truth is that I have a very great connection with Spain. I spend a good time there, with my family every year. I have a lot of affection for Spain,” declared the Jalisco native from the Belgian Grand Prix.

His link with Argentina also weighs. “For Argentina too, for (Lionel) Messi, the best player in history. I would love to see him win… the truth is that it is difficult to choose one. I think whoever it is will be a very good winner,” he added about the soccer star.

The Cadillac steering wheel considers that both finalists deserve to be there. “They both deserve to be in the Final, I think we are going to see the best game of the World Cup and I think it is the most interesting thing of the weekend,” he concluded with a laugh.

Checo, who has spent long periods in Spain due to his family and professional commitments, recognizes that the Final will be the most attractive sporting event of the weekend. His statement reflects the affection he feels for both teams, although his heart seems to lean towards Lionel Messi, whom he described as the best footballer in history.

Debut at home with a new era

Rayados de Monterrey faces the Apertura 2026 of Liga MX with high expectations. Under the direction of Matías Almeyda, the team is looking for a solid start that will make a difference in the tournament. The fans have placed their trust in the Argentine strategist, who will try to return consistent play to the club and fight for the title.

The only addition so far is the Uruguayan Diego Rossi, from the Columbus Crew of the MLS. His arrival generates hope, but the squad maintains the base of the previous tournament.

Date and rival

The first challenge will be against Santos, on Friday at 7:05 p.m. at the BBVA Stadium (Steel Giant). The broadcast will be carried out by TUDN and Channel 5. The Laguneros want to leave behind a bad past tournament, but they visit Rayados equally in need of redemption.

The Monterrey team knows that a good start can define the direction of the semester. The fans are attentive and trust that the new helmsman and the few reinforcements will make a difference.

Lionel Messi responded to the questions against Argentina and made it clear that success in the World Cup does not respond to referee favors or privileges.

“Nobody gave us anything,” said the captain after reaching the final.

The comeback against England

The Albiceleste beat England 2-1 in the semifinals after trailing 1-0 until the 85th minute. The victory sparked celebrations in Buenos Aires and placed the team one step away from winning consecutive world championships, with Spain as its rival in the final.

Doubts arose in previous matches against Cape Verde, Switzerland and Egypt, where rivals and coaches pointed out referee decisions that they considered favorable to the Argentine team. Swiss coach Murat Yakin and Egyptian coach Hossam Hassan cited alleged irregularities during their eliminations.

Messi rejected these versions and highlighted the group’s consistency throughout the World Cup cycle.

“We were the best in these four years, no matter who it hurts and no matter what they say,” said the forward, who assured that reaching two finals in a row shows the strength of the team.

The controversy over the Malvinas banner

The semifinal also left an episode off the field: some Argentine players celebrated with a banner alluding to the Malvinas Islands. The British government asked FIFA to investigate the incident.

Coach Lionel Scaloni considered that the accusations of referee help will continue, but pointed out that with the VAR it is difficult for there to be undue benefits. Both he and Messi defended the integrity of the team and emphasized that success is the result of a collective effort.