Who is Raúl Rangel? Mexico’s new starting goalkeeper after Memo Ochoa’s three World Cups

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June 11, 2026June 11, 2026By Mario Vásquez
Who is Raúl Rangel? Mexico’s new starting goalkeeper after Memo Ochoa’s three World Cups

The 26-year-old goalkeeper of Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Raul Rangelwill remain in the history of Tricolor after having been the starting goalkeeper for his team in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup against South Africawhere Mexico They won 2-0 and awakened the enthusiasm of millions of fans who dream of the semifinals.

Raúl Rangel became the official replacement for Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, who watched the Mexico team’s World Cup debut from the bench after having played three World Cups as holder of the Tricolor: Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, tournaments in which he played a total of eleven games and conceded twelve goals.

Therefore, Rangel entered the list of big names who had the responsibility of defending the colors of Mexico in the main soccer tournament in the world, like Jorge Campos, Oswaldo Sánchez and Óscar “The Rabbit“Perez, who expressed his confidence that Raúl will be the starting goalkeeper for Tricolor over Memo Ochoa.

“I see a very solid defensive line and a battle very intense in the goal; I think Rangel must be always whoever starts, although we can expect some surprises. “Javier has that plus: suddenly he trains with some and on game day he puts others in,” said Pérez, who favored the Guadalajara goalkeeper over the Guadalajara veteran. Cyprus.

From Jalisco to the World

After debuting with Tapatíoof the Mexican Expansion League, Raúl Rangel became part of the Chivas de Guadalajara in January 2023, where he already played 80 games and received his first call to the Mexico national team in February 2023. 2024. According to what he said, everything happened fastuntil reaching the World Cup.

According to what was stated by the television network ESPNRangel has been in charge of the family economy since 24 yearsso, according to what he said, everything has been a sacrifice. When he was a child he started working in a bakery, where he did cleaning work, and then dedicated himself to delivering meat and coconuts with their grandparents.

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In a Claro Sports documentary, Raúl’s mother, Miriam Aguilar, said that Rangel “from childhood he learned to be responsible“, although he was a very restless child who practiced cycling, volleyball and racquetball. However, his true passion was always soccersince he was a Chivas de Guadalajara fan since he was little.

Miriam Aguilar assures that her son always wanted to defend his team loves. However, it first started as frontbut little by little he retreated on the field, since his coach could not find a position for him, until Rangel discovered his talent under the three sticks and arrived in Guadalajara after turning 17.

From promise to reality

Rangel is going through the most solid of his career, with continuity in Guadalajara and recent presence in coach Javier Aguirre’s cycle with the Mexican national team, which is why he has established himself as a key goalkeeper thanks to his decisive savesthe games with the goal at zero and the trust evident from the technical director.

“There has been a lot of talk about goalkeepers. Anyone who starts in goal is going to provide security, although I think Rangel has done it very good. The coach supports him, so I think he can start every game. Javier is a guy who is exact in the details,” said “El Conejo” Pérez, who defended the Tri goal in three World Cups.

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