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For a player of Hirving Lozano’s caliber, the expectation is simple — be on the biggest stage when it matters most. But as things stand today, that path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is done.
Recent reports indicate that Lozano met with Javier Aguirre, the head coach of the Mexico national team, who made the situation clear: if Lozano wants to be part of the 26-man World Cup roster, he needs to be playing consistently. Not training on the side. Not waiting for opportunities. Playing.
That’s where things get complicated.
Right now, Lozano is effectively out of San Diego FC’s sporting plans. While the team continues to build momentum on the field, one of its biggest names has been left training separately, isolated from the group.
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For SDFC fans, it’s a strange and uncomfortable situation — a marquee player who was expected to be central to the club’s identity now sits on the outside looking in.
And yet, there was a way out.
Lozano reportedly declined a move to Real Oviedo — a move that would have placed him back in Europe, competing at a high level and putting himself in prime position ahead of the World Cup. A return to La Liga would have checked every box from a footballing perspective: visibility, competition, and form.
Instead, he stayed.
You can’t ignore the realities behind that decision. Lozano is guaranteed a reported $7.6 million salary with San Diego FC, and beyond the financial aspect, there’s the human side — family. With young children, stability matters. Uprooting again, moving continents, and adjusting to a new environment isn’t always as simple as it sounds from the outside.
In the end, that decision comes with a price. By choosing stability over playing time, Lozano has effectively closed the door on his World Cup hopes. For Mexico, the message from Javier Aguirre was clear — no minutes, no call-up. And for Lozano, a player who has represented his country on the biggest stages, that reality will sting.
While the decision may make sense from a personal and financial standpoint, it ultimately leaves one of Mexico’s brightest talents on the outside looking in when the 2026 World Cup arrives.
