Mexico’s emerging attacker Gilberto Mora has become the focal point of Peru’s preparations for Tuesday’s friendly, with Mano Menezes identifying the Tijuana forward as the player his side must contain when the two nations meet on 29 September.
Key takeaways
- Peru coach Mano Menezes described Gilberto Mora as one of Mexican football’s outstanding young talents.
- Mora scored his first senior international goal in Mexico’s 1-1 draw with Colombia last weekend.
- Menezes wants Peru to reduce the space available to the young forward and disrupt the combinations around him.
- André Carrillo’s involvement will be decided after Peru’s final training sessions and a fitness assessment.
- Mexico versus Peru kicks off at 19:00 Central Mexico time on Tuesday, 29 September.
Peru plan for Mexico’s young record-setter
Mora’s rise with Mexico has drawn attention well beyond the national side’s camp. The Xolos de Tijuana player has continued to set marks for his age with El Tri, and his latest landmark came against Colombia, when he found the net for the senior team for the first time.
Menezes said Mora’s ability to unsettle opponents makes him a potentially decisive figure in the match. “Gilberto Mora is a great talent in Mexican football,” the Peru coach said.
The Brazilian also noted the importance of the exposure Mexico coach Javier Aguirre has already given the player, first during the previous year and later at the 2026 World Cup. In Menezes’ view, that experience, as well as the environment surrounding the teenager, can carry particular value in an international friendly.
Peru’s defensive brief is clear: close the channels through which Mora receives and combines, rather than allow him room to run at the back line. Menezes said his team would be careful with the Mexican, warning that the forward can cause serious damage if left with the freedom to influence the contest.
Selection call still awaits Carrillo
Peru will not finalise their starting side until the final work on the training ground is complete. Carrillo is among the players being monitored, with the decision over his participation against Mexico dependent on how he comes through the remaining sessions.
The experienced attacker is due to rejoin regular training before Menezes decides whether to use him in this fixture or hold him back for Peru’s following match against Canada.
The Mexico-Peru friendly is scheduled for Tuesday, 29 September, at 19:00 in Central Mexico. Coverage is set to be available through Azteca Deportes, TUDN, Prime Video and Claro Sports.
